Naming Is The Argument
Names are how your system explains itself. To designers, engineers, and AI.
Config 2026: Everything New in Figma
I just got back from 2026’s Figma Config, held in San Francisco, and I’m still sorting through everything I saw and heard while I was there. But after some rest and getting over the annual Config Cold 🤧, I’m excited to share many of my thoughts about what’
Between the Lines: June 2026
Announcing our partnership with Southleft, what we're watching at Config, and why we've been telling some teams to hold off.
What Being Ready Actually Means
And why it has less to do with your system's polish than you might think
Governance Without Gatekeeping
What a good contribution process is actually protecting
Six Months Later
What a good engagement actually leaves behind
Between the Lines: May 2026
Documentation that looks complete but isn't useful. Token foundations under pressure. Slot architecture on a live project.
What the System Is Trying to Tell You
What you find when you audit a design system you didn't build, and why most of it makes more sense than it looks
You're Not Behind
These past few days have felt like a lot. On top of everything, there's been new tools, strong opinions, and a constant stream of hot takes about what all of this means for design. I shared a short post about it, mostly as a reminder to myself, and
The MCP Tool That's Changing How I Use Figma
Over the past year, I’ve been watching MCP tools quickly make their way into conversations and workflows around design systems. I’ve been really curious, but if I’m being completely honest, I’ve also been a bit intimidated. Our industry moved quickly before the introduction of AI, and
How I Think About Starting With Variables
A Simple Way to Get Unstuck With Variables Happy New Year, everyone! 👋 As I’ve been settling back into work, I’ve been thinking a lot about how teams get started with design systems work, especially when things feel big or intimidating. One area that comes up again and again
Baseline #28 – Buying Back My Time (and What It’s Teaching Me)
Some reflections, a few changes behind the scenes, and what I’m learning about protecting time, trusting others, and building Baseline for the long run. Hello again! 👋 After a little time away from the newsletter and from social media, it feels so good to be sitting down and writing here