Design Systems WTF

Episode 54 - How do you make developers to care about your design system?

Live recording of the fortnightly podcast Design Systems WTF (back for season two!), where Luke Murphy and Michelle Chin attempt to combat all the amazing wtf in design systems. In each episode, they answer a single question around design system troubles with a Q&A from the live audience.
Getting developers interested in the design system still seems to be a challenge for a lot of design system teams in 2026. So how do you get them interested in what you're doing? Do you need to bribe them with snacks? Luke and Michelle discuss ways to get engineers on board, why it's essential, and common pitfalls with design systems sans developers.
Show notes
None this week

Episode #53 - Is a design system mandate worth fighting for?

Live recording of the fortnightly podcast Design Systems WTF (back for season two!), where Luke Murphy and Michelle Chin attempt to combat all the amazing wtf in design systems. In each episode, they answer a single question around design system troubles with a Q&A from the live audience.
The Design System Report this year suggested that the number one thing design system teams with low adoption rates were missing was a company mandate. However, is that really the thing you should be fighting for? Or is your time better spent focusing on something else? Luke and Michelle will dive into what actually drives good adoption, and whether a mandate is just a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Show notes
Design System Report 2026
Design System Report webinar on Adoption
Design System Report webinar on Resourcing
The Question
Redwoods Community
Zeroheight Case Studies

Episode 52 - Does your design system need a PM?

Live recording of the fortnightly podcast Design Systems WTF (back for season two!), where Luke Murphy and Michelle Chin attempt to combat all the amazing wtf in design systems. In each episode, they answer a single question around design system troubles with a Q&A from the live audience. Time for the hot takes - do design systems need product management? Or is it something that just gets in the way and stops work happening?
Show notes
Design System Report 2026
Amy Hupe

Episode 51 - What do you actually test?

Live recording of the fortnightly podcast Design Systems WTF (back for season two!), where Luke Murphy and Michelle Chin attempt to combat all the amazing wtf in design systems. In each episode, they answer a single question around design system troubles with a Q&A from the live audience.
Once you've done a first pass on anything in your design system, how do you validate it? Do you create complicated automated tests to ensure absolute consistency? Or do you even put it in front of real people to make sure it works?
Show notes
Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
AXE MCP server
Tetralogical - a great accessibility agency

Live recording of the fortnightly podcast Design Systems WTF (back for season two!), where Luke Murphy and Michelle Chin attempt to combat all the amazing wtf in design systems. In each episode, they answer a single question around design system troubles with a Q&A from the live audience.
Now we're in the business of creating context for AI (ew), what is actually important when we're creating documentation that will be used by machines AND humans? Are detailed component guidelines important? Are the foundations essential to get right? Or can we rely on top-level patterns and vague guidance?
Show notes
How LLMs use MCPs to read your design system and how to write prompts that work with that
Product Deep Dive Webinar: MCP, vibe coding, and your design system
PDF of A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander et al.
Google Prompting Essentials course on Coursera
Marketing Against the Grain podcast
AI and Design Systems course with Brad Frost, Ian Frost and TJ Pitre
TJ Pitre on LinkedIn
Dom Nguyen on LinkedIn
Sil Bormüller on LinkedIn