Diagrams and learnings on setting up variables in Figma for a Design System, Some example components / elements in the updated system that now use variables, and Resources and talks used to understand variables better. This process is on-going and this article will be updated as more information, learnings, and developments occur.

As the first UX hire at a tech start-up, I came into an environment that did not have UX experience or processes in place. In fact, most of my career has been spent in start-up-esque companies in varying stages of design maturity. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, this can be a challenge. Maybe I’m a masochist, but it can be a fun and rewarding experience, too.

Designer Rie Nørregaard said in “Designing for Humanity,” that designers should shift away from “designing for” to “designing with” by connecting with different people and contexts. When designers step back from their own experiences to connect with the user and their perspective, we can design more equitably. This is especially true for designers that are members of the default norms…