Design Systems WTF

Feb 02 2025 32 ep. 28 mins 5
Design Systems WTF Podcast artwork

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. 

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Where should design systems sit in your org?

Feb 02 2025 29 mins  
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 and org design. Michelle and Luke are going to wade through the options, weigh up their merits and probably tear the entire thing down to

Should we get rid of infinite scroll?

Jan 19 2025 27 mins  
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 reconsider its place in design systems. What responsibilities do we have as creators when our components contribute to these issues? In thi

Do design systems make teams go faster?

Jan 06 2025 29 mins  
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 layer of complexity. Tune in for a reality check on the true impact of design systems on team performance!

Why isn’t contribution the answer?

Dec 18 2024 28 mins  
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 contribution and how to decide if it's the right path for your team.

Live from Converge 2025: When should we be using AI?

Dec 06 2024 26 mins  
Luke and Michelle come to you direct from Converge to talk about AI (again). Is there a place for AI in our design systems?

Why aren’t people contributing to the design system?

Oct 30 2024 30 mins  
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 that might be preventing contributions. We’ll discuss the motivations and barriers that impact participation and how to foster a thriving

Where can AI actually help with design systems?

Oct 23 2024 27 mins  
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 easier. Plus, we’ll guide you through creating a custom GPT to assist with your design system needs. Are you leveraging AI to its full po

Live from Hatch: Do we need to stop making components?

Oct 18 2024 41 mins  
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 components is actually holding back innovation? Join us as we explore whether it’s time to shift our attention away from components and

Why do we need to care more about patterns?

Sep 05 2024 26 mins  
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 without a solid pattern to guide them?

How should we version design systems?

Aug 14 2024 26 mins  
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?