Politics, UX Diagnosis, LOTR, and Brownies
Somethings Novel — Issue #12
Something I’m writing…
The Politics of Design Systems
Why building trust matters more than building components.
There’s a scene in Field of Dreams that I think of often. James Earl Jones turns to Kevin Costner and says: “People will come, Ray.”
This is what many of us believe, especially if you’ve ever poured your heart and soul into a design system, fully believing that if you just built it well enough, people will use it.
Except…it doesn’t really work that way. Building something good isn’t enough, especially when it comes to design systems.
So, I took time to explain what does make people come. Spoiler: it’s not documentation. It’s not governance. It’s not even the components.
It’s…trust? Yes, trust.
Something I’m thinking about…
You’re probably saying, “Ok you’ve had enough references to the Elements of User Experience by Jesse James Garrett”. Yep. And those references will keep coming. Why? Because that is unquestionably one of the most helpful frameworks for any digital experience designer to know.
But this time, I’m thinking about how to use the layers to diagnose the problems you’re faced with. What if you could use the layers to help you diagnose what kind of problem you’re dealing with and what prescription you could apply…think tools or techniques or methods for getting clarity on the best solution path.
This one’s been lingering in my head for a while and I’m excited to share the thoughts I’ve been mulling over.
Something I’m reading…
The Fellowship of the Rings
By J.R.R. Tolkien
Ok, I have a confession. I’ve seen the movies, but never actually sat down to read the LOTR books. So I put them on my “must read” list for 2025, and so far I’m so glad I did. I wrapped up 2024 by reading The Hobbit, then after completing the Harry Potter series, I moved on to Fellowship of the Rings. And, I’m so glad I did. I’m half-way through it and I’m realizing how much of the story is left out of the movie. For instance, I would have never been introduced to Tom Bombadil. I’m really appreciating the deep world-building of Tolkien and how rich the story really is. I‘ll keep you posted as I move through the series.
Something I’m enjoying…
Killer Brownies. Ok, you may have had a really good brownie before, but if you’re not local to Dayton, Ohio…then you’ve never had a truly killer brownie. These are chocolatey, life-changing, local, confections that will redefine what you think a brownie can be. These brownies are soft, filled with chocolate chips, oozing with carmel filling, and come in a variety of flavors. They were created in the early 1980s in Second Street Market by a grocer and they become a “…brownie that people couldn’t top talking about.” My personal favorite is probably the salted carmel. You’re welcome.
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Ah, the filiates. Have you heard of them? They’re links I use for the products and books I share. Why? Well, it helps support this extra work that I do in my personal time on my personal budget. When you use one of these links I get an incredibly small kick back. Most people call them affiliate links. But hey, thanks for your support!