Design Systems WTF
A podcast from zeroheight.
Let’s be honest, design systems are full of choice wtf moments. Michelle and Luke, two of our resident design advocates, are attempting to combat this with a new regular series, where they answer a single question around design system troubles every two weeks.
Episodes
33 episodes
How much is too much documentation?
Sometimes we may feel the urge to include everything in our documentation, to the point where it rivals Lord of the Rings for length and density. However, we may be doing ourselves a disservice! How much is too much documentation? How much is n...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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27:01
Where should design systems sit in your org?
Design systems should sit in the design team. Design systems should sit in the designops team. Design systems should sit in their own team. There are so many different options that are presented as the ‘truth’ when it comes to design systems an...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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29:41
Should we get rid of infinite scroll?
Infinite scroll was designed to enhance the UX for browsing search results, but now it's often used to keep users endlessly engaged on social media. As concerns grow about its impact on mental health, especially among young people, it's time to...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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27:41
Do design systems make teams go faster?
Design systems are often hailed as the ultimate productivity boosters for devs and designers alike, but do they really deliver on that promise? We’ll explore whether design systems genuinely make teams more efficient or if they just add another...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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29:11
Why isn’t contribution the answer?
Contribution often seems like the perfect solution for scaling design systems, but is it really? We'll weigh the tough realities of managing contributions and why a federated system might not suit everyone. We'll explore the hurdles of contribu...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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28:59
Live from Converge 2025: When should we be using AI?
Luke and Michelle come to you direct from Converge to talk about AI (again). Is there a place for AI in our design systems?
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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26:48
Why aren’t people contributing to the design system?
If you're struggling to get contributions to your design system, you might think it’s a governance issue. But it might not be the real issue. In this episode, we'll consider why people aren't contributing and examine factors beyond governance t...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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30:12
Where can AI actually help with design systems?
We're cutting through the AI hype and getting to the good stuff—practical ways AI can supercharge your design system. From streamlining workflows to generating documentation, we'll explore real-world applications of AI that can make your life e...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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27:18
Live from Hatch: Do we need to stop making components?
In this episode, we’re challenging the status quo of design systems by questioning the necessity of components. Are we too focused on building and maintaining a library of components when we should be thinking bigger? What if our obsession with...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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41:08
Why do we need to care more about patterns?
In this episode, we’re focusing on patterns, the often-overlooked pillar of your design system. Why should we focus on patterns more than components? Are your components really as reusable as you think, or are they just static building blocks w...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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26:48
How should we version design systems?
In this episode, we explore the enigma that is design system versioning. How do we make sense of versioning? How do you sync versions between code, design, and documentation? Maybe it’s easier to ignore versioning, but at what cost?
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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26:09
Has AI made everyone a designer? A spicy conversation with Pablo Stanley
AI tools are transforming the landscape, making it easier than ever to create and design. Is this making everyone a designer? Will design system makers have to herd even more cats? We’ll be joined by special guest
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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29:49
WTF happened at Config?
In this episode, we’re diving into the buzzworthy announcements and new feature releases that have the design community talking. We’ll share our opinions and insights on how these changes will impact design systems and workflows. Whether you mi...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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29:07
How do you prove the value of design systems?
We tackle the fundamental question: “How do you prove the value of design systems?” What kind of metrics work? Why does the math seem so fuzzy? Are there any valid measurements? Based on our experiences and what we’ve seen with other teams, we ...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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28:40
They downsized the design system team; how do we survive?
We navigate the challenges and uncertainties that arise when a design system team undergoes downsizing or restructuring. How do the design system team and teams who use the design system cope in this situation? We explore strategies for resilie...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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25:47
What’s keeping design systems people up at night?
In this episode, we answer some interesting design system questions from the Internet. With Luke away, Dave, our Developer Advocate, will joins Michelle. Sharing insights from a developer and designer perspective, respectively. Will Dave and Mi...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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33:21
Should Figma be the source of truth?
Figma is currently dominating the design landscape and with good reason. They’ve taken what we’ve done with product and UX design and allowed us to do so much more than we used to be able to. With the release and continued improvement of Dev Mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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27:17
Is using a pre-built frontend library realistic?
Today we ask, “Is using a pre-built frontend library realistic?” We look into the pros and cons of leveraging frontend libraries such as MUI, Tailwind, or Ant Design for your design system. Are these libraries a shortcut to success, or do they ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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26:36
Future-proofing your design system
Design systems should reflect what’s currently in your product, but it’s tempting to future-proof them. After all, getting the system up and running was a lot of work, so what’s the harm in adding a few new things? Future us will thank our past...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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25:30
How do we get past the MVP state?
We examine that critical phase in the life of a design system: moving beyond the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Launching an MVP is just the beginning, but what comes next? Michelle and Luke discuss strategies for advocating for more resources, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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27:21
Building delight into your design system
We tackle a question that often gets overlooked in the world of design systems: Is there room for fun and delight? Sure, components are the workhorses of design systems, known for their functionality and consistency, but does that mean they hav...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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28:44
Building a Global Design System
We dive into the ambitious idea proposed by Brad Frost: creating a global design system for everyone to use. Imagine a world where companies don’t reinvent the wheel with every component they create, but instead, contribute to and utilize a sha...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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26:54
Our design system Valentines
This special episode is our love letter to the unsung heroes of the design system world. Join us as we shine a spotlight on some incredible individuals in the field who might not be on your radar yet, but definitely should be. We'll share our p...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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21:32