Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
@samiamdesigns.bsky.social
Freelance Design Systems Lead 🎨📐 Host @ Into Design Systems 👩🎨 Creative weirdo 🖤 🏡🎶 House music selectress 🌅 Sky chaser (She/Her)
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
Come and join us in February for the first Smashing Meets of 2026!
We'll be talking about everything Design Systems with the lovely @bencallahan.com, @samiamdesigns.bsky.social, and @geoffgraham.me.
We hope you will join us online. Tickets are free 💞
smashingconf.com/meets-design...
We'll be talking about everything Design Systems with the lovely @bencallahan.com, @samiamdesigns.bsky.social, and @geoffgraham.me.
We hope you will join us online. Tickets are free 💞
smashingconf.com/meets-design...
December 22, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Come and join us in February for the first Smashing Meets of 2026!
We'll be talking about everything Design Systems with the lovely @bencallahan.com, @samiamdesigns.bsky.social, and @geoffgraham.me.
We hope you will join us online. Tickets are free 💞
smashingconf.com/meets-design...
We'll be talking about everything Design Systems with the lovely @bencallahan.com, @samiamdesigns.bsky.social, and @geoffgraham.me.
We hope you will join us online. Tickets are free 💞
smashingconf.com/meets-design...
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
Does anyone in my bsky vicinity have experience with game design? I’m working on a game design document and I’d love to either pick your brain, or maybe we can work on this concept of mine together.
December 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Does anyone in my bsky vicinity have experience with game design? I’m working on a game design document and I’d love to either pick your brain, or maybe we can work on this concept of mine together.
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
Don’t get caught up in the silly design system debate on whether design or code is the “real source of truth.” We all know the authoritative source of truth is actually a spreadsheet.
December 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Don’t get caught up in the silly design system debate on whether design or code is the “real source of truth.” We all know the authoritative source of truth is actually a spreadsheet.
Thats a wrap on SheBuilds! I truly built something Lovable in 48hrs dispite being sick 🤒 Full rundown after I'm done being rundown 🫶
December 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Thats a wrap on SheBuilds! I truly built something Lovable in 48hrs dispite being sick 🤒 Full rundown after I'm done being rundown 🫶
Home stretch starts now! 🫶 "What is the impact of replacing my typeface?" is now something that can be answered in just a couple of clicks. 🤯 This exact question would have taken 100x longer just 36hr ago.
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Home stretch starts now! 🫶 "What is the impact of replacing my typeface?" is now something that can be answered in just a couple of clicks. 🤯 This exact question would have taken 100x longer just 36hr ago.
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
Wrote a piece for the @zeroheight.com blog on annotating design system components for accessibility: zeroheight.com/blog/how-to-... #a11y
How to annotate design system components for accessibility - zeroheight
Geri Reid shares how accessibility annotations for design systems help teams document components, create reusable specs, and build inclusive products.
zeroheight.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Wrote a piece for the @zeroheight.com blog on annotating design system components for accessibility: zeroheight.com/blog/how-to-... #a11y
Day 1 of SheBuilds 🫶 I lost 5 hrs of building today to wrap up facilitating my theming design systems workshop with @smashing_conf where I teach people how to build these kinds of systems maps as a way to think through their design systems scaling challenges MANUALLY.
December 16, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Day 1 of SheBuilds 🫶 I lost 5 hrs of building today to wrap up facilitating my theming design systems workshop with @smashing_conf where I teach people how to build these kinds of systems maps as a way to think through their design systems scaling challenges MANUALLY.
First 2.5 hrs of SheBuilds 👩💻 1hr Kickoff call - 1 hr chatting with Lovable to develop the plan and the 1st build, fixed a couple of minor issues and have my FIRST WORKING BUILD! 30 mins documenting my progress 😻
December 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
First 2.5 hrs of SheBuilds 👩💻 1hr Kickoff call - 1 hr chatting with Lovable to develop the plan and the 1st build, fixed a couple of minor issues and have my FIRST WORKING BUILD! 30 mins documenting my progress 😻
If you ever want someone to ruthlessly cut scope on an MVP project, ask Claude to help you prep for a 48hr buildathon! 🙈
December 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
If you ever want someone to ruthlessly cut scope on an MVP project, ask Claude to help you prep for a 48hr buildathon! 🙈
It's 48 hrs until SheBuilds starts! I'm going to share my progress learning Lovable and building an interactive system mapping tool as my project 0-1. 🫠 As a technically savvy no-coder, I'm equally excited and annoyed at how loud my inner saboteur is...
December 13, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It's 48 hrs until SheBuilds starts! I'm going to share my progress learning Lovable and building an interactive system mapping tool as my project 0-1. 🫠 As a technically savvy no-coder, I'm equally excited and annoyed at how loud my inner saboteur is...
Christmas came early in Figma ☃️ Looks like we can now import and export DTCG formatted design tokens as variables! Is it time to retire the Tokens ≠ Variables stickers? More testing is required!
And no, this isn't an enterprise account. This is my freelance account on the Pro Figma plan.... 🙌
And no, this isn't an enterprise account. This is my freelance account on the Pro Figma plan.... 🙌
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Christmas came early in Figma ☃️ Looks like we can now import and export DTCG formatted design tokens as variables! Is it time to retire the Tokens ≠ Variables stickers? More testing is required!
And no, this isn't an enterprise account. This is my freelance account on the Pro Figma plan.... 🙌
And no, this isn't an enterprise account. This is my freelance account on the Pro Figma plan.... 🙌
Me everytime I have to use a Google doc and add images... 🤦♀️ Where is the AI assist for these kinds of pain points? Maybe 2026 will be the year!
December 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Me everytime I have to use a Google doc and add images... 🤦♀️ Where is the AI assist for these kinds of pain points? Maybe 2026 will be the year!
I got accepted to SheBuilds on Lovable Season 02! 🎉 Any guesses what I'll build? Wrong answers only 😜
#SheBuildsOnLovable
#SheBuildsOnLovable
December 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I got accepted to SheBuilds on Lovable Season 02! 🎉 Any guesses what I'll build? Wrong answers only 😜
#SheBuildsOnLovable
#SheBuildsOnLovable
Did you know Systems Thinking is an academic framework backed by science? 🤔 Stoked to be teaching the FUNdamentals of Systems Thinking through a Design Systems perspective during my upcoming workshops with Smashing Conferences 😻
🔗👇
🔗👇
December 1, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Did you know Systems Thinking is an academic framework backed by science? 🤔 Stoked to be teaching the FUNdamentals of Systems Thinking through a Design Systems perspective during my upcoming workshops with Smashing Conferences 😻
🔗👇
🔗👇
Ever wondered how you might use an LLM to document your design decisions? 🤖 I recorded my workflow using Claude Desktop and the template I shared yesterday to create the Architecture Decision Record example featured in the article.
Watch the YouTube video ▶️ youtu.be/vyKG6nNixeU...
Watch the YouTube video ▶️ youtu.be/vyKG6nNixeU...
Documenting Design Systems - Architecture Decisions Record with Claude Desktop
Ever stared at your own design system wondering "why did I do this?" 😅 Design tokens tell you WHAT the decision is, but not WHY. Architecture Decision Recor...
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Ever wondered how you might use an LLM to document your design decisions? 🤖 I recorded my workflow using Claude Desktop and the template I shared yesterday to create the Architecture Decision Record example featured in the article.
Watch the YouTube video ▶️ youtu.be/vyKG6nNixeU...
Watch the YouTube video ▶️ youtu.be/vyKG6nNixeU...
Design Tokens aren't enough. While they document WHAT was decided in your design system, you still need to document WHY it was decided. 🤔 This is where an Architecture Decisions Record (ADR) comes in handy!
November 25, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Design Tokens aren't enough. While they document WHAT was decided in your design system, you still need to document WHY it was decided. 🤔 This is where an Architecture Decisions Record (ADR) comes in handy!
It's almost 2026... Why can't I paste markdown into a Google doc and have it just work? 🤬
![A screenshot of a Google doc with a header written as ## [pattern or decision] which should be formatted as an H2 header in the document if It processed the markdown paste correctly.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:pp6y4o7miyfqmx2ywt237zkc/bafkreibdpt2htho5puefdudgfhlccsxeiov2zz2v4xmgu2s264cxi2wdlq@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It's almost 2026... Why can't I paste markdown into a Google doc and have it just work? 🤬
"Why is the primary button using the quaternary brand token? WTF is quaternary anyway?" 😳 Let's be real - we've all inherited (or created 🙈) systems with these head scratchers. They usually hit when you're new to a system and trying to figure out what decisions were made and why.
The good news?
The good news?
November 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
"Why is the primary button using the quaternary brand token? WTF is quaternary anyway?" 😳 Let's be real - we've all inherited (or created 🙈) systems with these head scratchers. They usually hit when you're new to a system and trying to figure out what decisions were made and why.
The good news?
The good news?
Curious about my upcoming Theming Design Systems workshop? 🧐 Here's a sneak peek at one of the collaborative workshop files where we practice systems mapping skills to think through the classic problem of "where should things live in my Figma workspace?"
November 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Curious about my upcoming Theming Design Systems workshop? 🧐 Here's a sneak peek at one of the collaborative workshop files where we practice systems mapping skills to think through the classic problem of "where should things live in my Figma workspace?"
Booking my flu shot appointment is like planning to get sick now to avoid getting even more sick later... 🤒
I'm so jealous of the folks who aren't knocked out after a vaccine, but it's still worth it! 🙌
I'm so jealous of the folks who aren't knocked out after a vaccine, but it's still worth it! 🙌
November 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Booking my flu shot appointment is like planning to get sick now to avoid getting even more sick later... 🤒
I'm so jealous of the folks who aren't knocked out after a vaccine, but it's still worth it! 🙌
I'm so jealous of the folks who aren't knocked out after a vaccine, but it's still worth it! 🙌
Nature's ombre 🍁 My favourite time of year to wander my neighborhood and take in magic of color changing skyscapes and trees.
November 4, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Nature's ombre 🍁 My favourite time of year to wander my neighborhood and take in magic of color changing skyscapes and trees.
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
We can also have a nice entry animation by adding the following code:
```
img {
transition: 1s 1s;
@starting-style {
offset: circle(0px) 0% 0deg;
}
}
```
Demo: codepen.io/t_afif/full/... via @codepen.io
```
img {
transition: 1s 1s;
@starting-style {
offset: circle(0px) 0% 0deg;
}
}
```
Demo: codepen.io/t_afif/full/... via @codepen.io
July 18, 2025 at 9:41 AM
We can also have a nice entry animation by adding the following code:
```
img {
transition: 1s 1s;
@starting-style {
offset: circle(0px) 0% 0deg;
}
}
```
Demo: codepen.io/t_afif/full/... via @codepen.io
```
img {
transition: 1s 1s;
@starting-style {
offset: circle(0px) 0% 0deg;
}
}
```
Demo: codepen.io/t_afif/full/... via @codepen.io
A systems thinking approach to Theming in design systems 🫶
How to scale theming in Figma without losing your mind 🤌
Working on Design Tokens or Theming?
You’ve probably seen the chaos that comes with scaling variables 🙈
At Into Design Systems Conference @samiamdesigns.bsky.social shared a powerful method to structure themes
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Working on Design Tokens or Theming?
You’ve probably seen the chaos that comes with scaling variables 🙈
At Into Design Systems Conference @samiamdesigns.bsky.social shared a powerful method to structure themes
substack.com/home/post/p-...
How to scale theming in Figma without losing your mind
What do you do when the message says: "We need light and dark mode across 5 brands… for web and mobile.
substack.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A systems thinking approach to Theming in design systems 🫶
Reposted by Sam I am Designs 🫶 🇨🇦
This is amazing: A reference manual for people who design and build software. Written and illustrated by Dan Hollick. www.makingsoftware.com
MAKING SOFTWARE
A reference manual for people who design and build software.
www.makingsoftware.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:37 AM
This is amazing: A reference manual for people who design and build software. Written and illustrated by Dan Hollick. www.makingsoftware.com
Today, Anthropic made my dreams come true. MCP between Claude and Airtable is a GAME CHANGER! 🤖
I'm OVER using token management tools for reasons best discussed over a strong coffee or a negroni. My motivation is going to be for your benefit very soon. 🚀
I'm OVER using token management tools for reasons best discussed over a strong coffee or a negroni. My motivation is going to be for your benefit very soon. 🚀
July 14, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Today, Anthropic made my dreams come true. MCP between Claude and Airtable is a GAME CHANGER! 🤖
I'm OVER using token management tools for reasons best discussed over a strong coffee or a negroni. My motivation is going to be for your benefit very soon. 🚀
I'm OVER using token management tools for reasons best discussed over a strong coffee or a negroni. My motivation is going to be for your benefit very soon. 🚀