Meet the team

I was enticed by the prospect of doing work that is impactful at a company-wide scale and beyond, and the striveness for excellence that performing at such a critical, very low-error-tolerance environment entails. I am always very proud to see the results of my team's and my hard work materialized in beautiful, useful applications deployed worldwide. I also appreciate the opportunity to work very closely with design while still wearing a developer hat.

I've had the opportunity to work and be mentored by some truly amazing folks. From managers, technology leaders, software architects, professors turned colleagues, and more. I appreciate every professional I have and will interface with along my journey and take a small piece of them with me wherever I go.

Honorable mentions go to Sergio Lopez, the college professor that took me under his wing and beared with me as I broke production more times than I'd be willing to admit, closely followed by Joe Harvey, who taught me the difference between software development and engineering.

VSCode, GitHub, TypeScript, React, middle-of-the-day naps, high-speed internet, and, most importantly, a mini can of Coke Zero

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Being able to utilize the same components throughout different applications is what I love about design systems. I believe it can be a powerful tool to keep consistency, especially in regards to accessibility. I also love the challenges that a design system brings, along with the rewards for the developers that utilize it.

I've learned a ton from my colleagues in the past. Stephen, Kyle, Michael, John, Trevor, and so many others. I'm also a big fan of Adrian Roselli, Sara Soueidan, Marcy Sutton, and all the others who helped me gain more insights into accessibility as a whole.

VS Code, NVDA, GitHub, CodePen, my notebook

I love how they foster an environment and culture of continuously learning, growing, and connecting within a community. Being able to support people in their day-to-day work is so rewarding to me, especially when these tools or resources help to improve the access of everything we make.

I've always loved watching talks by Alan Kay. The way he thinks about the future and inventing for it makes me so hopeful and excited.

I also enjoy revisiting talks from Sebastian Markbåge, Nicholas Matsakis, and Sandi Metz. I learn something new each time as I hear them talk about their approach to writing code and incrementally evolving complex systems over time.

When it comes to accessibility, I am forever grateful for all the resources, writing, and presentations from Adrian Roselli, Sarah Higley, and Scott O'Hara. Their work has been so influential to my own.

Finally, when it comes to building and supporting teams I've loved going through resources from Julie Zhou, Lara Hogan, and Will Larson.

NeoVim, GitHub, ARIA APG, coffee, Figma, Spotify

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Design systems were initially described to me as “a centralized hub for designers and developers to build faster, more efficiently, and consistent.” That made a lot of sense and it’s easier said that done. When I started to work in web accessibility (a11y), I realized the biggest impact I could make on a product was through an accessible design system versus one-off product fixes, which only increased my interest.

I am extremely grateful to have a series of mentors that have created brave spaces for me as someone in tech with multiple marginalized identities. Most recently, I’ve been inspired by the compassion and optimism of the a11y community, and younger generations who realize that web accessibility is civil and humane right versus an afterthought.

Figma, Inspect, Colour Contrast Analyzer (CCA), Slack, Spotify, dance breaks

After seeing how reusable component libraries can solve so many UX and DX problems, I continued to dig into the space and started learning about design systems and I was fascinated by the concept since then! I also love focusing on building individual pieces and making them accessible with a systematic approach so that other teams only worry about their domain-specific problems.

Alla Kholmatova’s Design Systems book was one of the first resources I came across in this area and it broadened my understanding greatly. The work Dan Mall, Brad Frost and Nathan Curtis have been doing in the design systems space helped me start putting things in action along with some of my favourite platforms and they are Invision Design Better, IBM Carbon Design System, Smashing Magazine. There are also quite a few individuals I enjoy learning from and some of them are Joshua Comeau, Sara Soueidan, Marcy Sutton, Stephanie Eckles and of course the amazing Primer team 💙

VS Code, Notion, GitHub, Slack, pen and paper, Hario V60 brewing kit, books

As an agency developer early in my career, it seemed we were always building the same UI with different styles. So why not build once, with enough flexibility to customize for many clients?

Later, it became clear to me that systems could boost the end user's experience through more than speed to production; systems multiply consistency, usability, and accessibility. And who doesn't want a top-notch, inclusive user experience which the makers can ship more quickly?

We stand on the shoulders of giants. I deeply appreciate the former colleagues who have helped me learn and grow, all of the folks who write and speak in the design systems space, and the work of management leaders like Lara Hogan, Camille Fournier, Sarah Drasner, and Caree Youngman.

The playful, innovative work of my friend Charlie Gerard never fails to inspire and remind me what humans in tech are capable of creating.

VS Code, React, CSS, axe Accessibility Linter, Netlify, and a big mug

I get so much joy from writing HTML and CSS, and design systems are one level up - systematically making UIs accessible and consistent. I love concentrating on the tiny things like button states so product folk can build the big picture, knowing that the details are taken care of.

Chris Coyier's CSS-Tricks was a hugely important resource for me when I was first learning how to make websites, and the community on CodePen is an endless source of inspiration.

VS Code, DevTools, Figma, Notion, Field Notes, earl grey

I first learned about design systems through the work of Joseph Müller-Brockmann, Massimo Vignelli, and Otl Aicher. I was fascinated by their principles, the patterns they developed, the modularity of their approach, and the abstractions they established. All that gave me an entirely new perspective and understanding of design. I later connected these learnings to my work while scaling user interfaces on startups and larger organizations.

I've been very fortunate to learn and work with many inspiring designers, engineers, and product people over the last few years. Aitor, Anna, Javi, Miguel, and Ricardo, to name just a few. Also, I've learned a lot about design, process, thinking, and strategy from Oliver Reichenstein and Ryan Singer, and code from Nicolas Gallagher, Harry Roberts, and Lea Verou.

Obsidian, iA Writer, Lamy 2000, Framer, VS Code, Next.js, Vercel, Raycast, coffee, rum

Through pure frustration of “there has to be a better way”, I wandered into the world of design systems and it just clicked! Found so many talented folks who worked on the intersection of design and development roles (used to be called "hybrids", but that might be out of fashion). Bought into the idea of defining a common language for designers and developers, still chasing that dream :)

People I have worked with over the years ♥️ and the people I’ve looked up to — Nicole Sullivan, Jina Anne, Jacob Thornton, Brent Jackson, Sunil Pai, Sarah Drasner, Addy Osmani and my sister!

Devtools, Figma, iA Writer, GitHub, CodeSandbox, Hyper, Vercel, Kap, Muji pens!

Being part of a few startups I've always noticed that engineers quickly outgrew designers and when this happened it was hard to keep up as a designer. Small obvious design patterns would often need clarification because they weren't clear. System thinking has always reduced this problem and allowed us to move quickly without compromising on quality.

Co-workers have always played a crucial part in growing into system thinking. Working as a designer on a design tool in the past I was also lucky to chat to endless of big companies trying to set up design systems as well.

React, XCode, Figma, GitHub, Atom and 4pm biscuits

I was frustrated by all of the inconsistent UI, duplicated work, and redundant meetings that my teams would have to deal with. I finally found a discipline where I could use my design skills and my engineering skills to solve meaty problems without being limited to a traditional design or engineering role.

Working on a design system with Adam Detrick was invaluable and taught me so much. I'm also humbled and inspired by the work of David DeSandro, Lynn Hershman, Rachel Andrew, and Wei Huang.

VS Code, Zsh, CSS, React, Adobe Illustrator, pen and paper, Microsoft To Do, Chrome Inspector

Technology and design being considered at odds is a recent invention. Design systems are just the way I think, so building bridges between design and engineering is at the heart of much of my work.

I am fortunate to say that the list of people who have taught and inspired me is long. I am full of gratitude for the people who take the time and energy to teach, build tools for collaboration, and run communities that lift people up.

Sublime Text, React, Pencil and Paper, Figma, GitHub, coffee

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I like it when things around me are organized. I like writing, and the process of refining an idea into words. I like guidelines, style guides, patterns, HTML, and CSS. I like to have several projects on at once. I like planning. I like to work smart, not hard. When you add all of these you get… design systems!

More than anything, the people I’ve worked with over the years. I learned something from everyone: being generous with my knowledge, being serious about research, work discipline, balancing family life and work, speaking up, picking my battles, and everything good that I know. Also: the conversations and connections I made during the early years of Design Twitter — still going strong.

Too many! Things, Simplenote, iA Writer, Dictionary, VS Code, xScope, notebooks, Pinboard, Overcast, spreadsheets, and Earl Grey.

Ok, this might sound weird, but I really enjoy looking at UIs. There is something satisfying, seeing a bunch of components getting thrown on a page that fit well together, forming a balanced interface for users to interact with. I also enjoy building UIs and helping others to do the same.

Thinking back, seeing the CSS Zen Garden was really inspiring. Also the CSS "demo scene" found in places like CodePen is nuts. Admittedly, not always practical, but fun to check out.

I also got inspired and learned a lot from methodologies like OOCSS, SMACSS, BEM, SUIT and nowadays CSS-in-JS. The "how to organize CSS" is a challenging, but also interesting problem to solve.

DevTools, Atom, Figma, Sketch, iA Writer, LICEcap, Things, coffee, headphones.

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I have had a fascination with front end engineering and UI for all of my career. Early on at GitHub I recognized the need to organize our code into reusable components. When the team formalized I had to be involved.

Both past and present I have to acknowledge that Nicole Sullivan has been profoundly influential in the way I front-end and write CSS. When she introduced concepts of OOCSS it brought me from thinking very linearly about CSS to a whole new range of systems thinking.

Atom, Bash/Shell, Figma, GitHub, iTerm, Javascript, MacBook Pro, Things

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Studying engineering and design, I enjoy collaborating with designers and engineers from various teams to ensure that the design system remains adaptive in addressing evolving needs. Working on design systems provides a unique opportunity to shape the foundational elements that drive consistency, branding, and cohesive user experiences across an entire organization. In addition, it allows me to learn how to look at our products and experiences at a systems-first, future-proof level.

I'm immensely grateful for the online design community, a nurturing space where designers from all walks of life share their knowledge with the next generation— Steve Jobs, Julie Zhuo, Ethan Eismann and many others. This collective effort continuously inspires my own creative journey to create accessible, beautiful, and seamless experiences.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the design team at GitHub, who mentored and supported me in discoverying my passion for design systems: Natalya Shelburne, Katie Langerman, and Cole Bemis. Ultimately, it is the collective wisdom, creativity, and collaborations that fuel my joy in designing.

Copilot, Figma, Rewatch, GitHub, Youtube, Twitter, Primer.style

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It naturally occurred while working on startup projects with limited resources, striving to enhance our productivity while avoiding repeated activities and inconsistent UI. Learning about OOCSS, SMACSS, or BEM methodologies pushed and drew me in the direction of a system thinking strategy.

From all the co-workers and friends I’ve been lucky to work with: Hayk An, Victoria Nikitina, Daniel Guillan, Javier Sanchez, and from all of the folks who share their knowledge in the design and development space: Lea Verou, Harry Roberts, Sara Soueidan, Benjamin de Cock, and Brent Jackson to name a few.

VS Code, Notes, Figma, GitHub, Vercel, Spotify

Over the decades, my primary expertise has slowly migrated from back-end development to front-end. I've always had an interest in design, and working on design systems allows me to explore that interest while continuing to leverage my expertise in front-end engineering.

The constant shifts in front-end programming over the years and an intrinsic desire to learn have always been a driving factor in my own exploration of computer programming. I'm fortuante to work with a huge number of talented engineers and designers at GitHub, which is very inspiring and very rewarding.

Vim, Photoshop, Blender, and a good, old-fashioned shell prompt.

Throughout the various roles I’ve had in product design, creating good and cohesive experiences for people was always what truly motivated me to be in this area. As I started working in larger projects, style guides, design patterns and design systems became essential to scale cohesion, and ultimately part of my life.

I’ve been lucky to encounter and collaborate with immensely talented people where I’ve been — that has shaped me more than I can imagine. Over the years, stumbling upon Bruno Bergher, Lulu LaMer, Andrew Branch, among many many others, have shown me people who are eager to learn, and above all open to being wrong (even if they’re right most of the time).

I like how Yuval Noah Harari has helped me (and an entire generation) to see the big picture, and I have always been inspired by designers who spread beyond their areas like Frank Chimero and Rasmus Andersson do.

Pen and paper, Figma, photography camera

I love organization and lists. I have a lists for things from movies to boba tea orders. I like to bring this into my design work as well, creating components and cohesiveness across platforms to make it easier for people to create great products.

When I first began learning about design, I was inspired by the people who contributed back to the community by teaching and opening up to students. Resources like Students Who Design and Design Details helped me figure out how I wanted to make a positive impact in tech.

More recently, I've been inspired by design agencies and companies that are testing the boundaries of design outside of what is accepted as 'common pratice'. I enjoy seeing unique animation and motion used to convey information, emotion, and storytelling.

Sketch, Figma, Atom, Dropbox Paper, Twitter, Ping Pong, Ukulele

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I came into design systems very organically. When I began my career in the agency world, I worked within constraints of branding and style guidelines of our various clients. At the time I didn't fully recognize these guidelines as what we now refer to as design systems. As my career continued to grow I noticed that I began to be far more interested in how various companies/brands packaged the many pieces that made up their brand and/or products. I love how design systems bring together all the pieces in order to unleash endless creativity but still maintain the necessary constraints.

I get a lot of my inspiration from the community I've built via Dribbble. A few of my favorites are the dynamic duo that makes of TheLittleLabs, Camilo and Aradhana, the illustration work by Enisaurus, and Kendrick Kidd.

When I first started my career, Frank Chimero was a huge inspiration. His book, The Shape of Design, really helped to form my philosophy and approach to problems and how to cultivate a design process. Along with that but not design related, Jason Fried has been a great inspiration to how I approach work. His book (written alongside David Heinemeier Hansson) Rework still is the best, no nonsense, business book I've ever read.

Figma, Atom, Keynote, Bear Notes, Spark Mail, Spotify

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I worked in data visualization and map-making for most of my career, and solving design problems with data is my jam. To me there's something uniquely exciting about making a thing that can take complicated and/or unexpected input and, with no human intervention, reduce it to something visually comprehensible—and hopefully interesting!

Anyone who has ever contributed to A List Apart or posted to the webdesign-l mailing list between 1999 and 2005. The CSS Zen Garden was hugely inspirational for me, along with web standards pioneers like Eric Meyer, Mark Pilgrim, and Jeff Zeldman. Jina is one of the hardest-working people in design systems, and her leadership in the community is a tremendous inspiration. I learned everything I know about SVG from Sara Soueidan, and everything I could hope to know about CSS Grid from Rachel Andrew and Jen Simmons. If you want to learn about web components, follow Monica Dinculescu and Mu-An Chiou.

Vim, Things, Chrome DevTools, curl

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