Writing
One of the best ways to learn something is to write about it.
My journey as a developer, designer, founder, and speaker has been impacted tremendously when I've taken the time to write about what I've learned.
There is always someone ahead of you, and there will always be someone a little further behind. I believe it's each person's job to share what they're learning, to help complete that chain of knowledge. Below, you'll find articles, research, notes, and ideas from my journey of learning.
I write and speak mostly about design systems, culture, and being better humans.
Recent Writings
Why you’re NOT seeing Holistic Impact from your Design System
November 1, 2024 | bencallahan.comAn analysis of the reasons most organizations aren't seeing the benefits they had hoped from their design system.
Design Systems: What to Work On
October 28, 2024 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 35 of The Question on prioritizing the right work for a design system program
Design System Micro-Adoption
September 8, 2024 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 31 of The Question on design system micro-adoption
Design System Shearing Layers
July 20, 2024 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 25 of The Question on design system shearing layers.
Analysys vs Synthesis
March 5, 2024 | bencallahan.comThe hardest problems in design systems work can be solved with a simple mindset shift—from analysis to synthesis.
Design System Tooling
January 27, 2024 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 8 of The Question on design system tooling.
Multi-platform Design Systems
January 11, 2024 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 7 of The Question on multi-platform design systems.
Fixing Design System Contribution
December 17, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 6 of The Question on fixing design system contribution.
How Much of a Rule Breaker are You?
December 10, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 5 of The Question on breaking the rules of your company.
Design System Communication Strategies
December 1, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 4 of The Question on design system communication strategies.
Design System Team Makeup
November 18, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 3 of The Question on design system team makeup.
Inside Out, or Outside In?
November 10, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as part of Episode 2 of The Question on whether you should start your design system from the inside out or from the outside in.
Product Designer vs Systems Designer
November 3, 2023 | bencallahan.comA summary of the deep-dive conversation we had as a part the first episode of The Question on the difference between a Product Designer and a Systems Designer.
Portraits
October 16, 2023 | bencallahan.comIt doesn't matter how well you understand the camera if you don't understand the person.
The Middle Piece
September 29, 2023 | bencallahan.comIf you're stuck on a specific design system task, sometimes the best option is to pause that work and focus elsewhere.
The Power of Your Language
August 17, 2023 | bencallahan.comThe core of your design system should be the language you use, not specific instances of patterns. And that language should be derived from the values of the organization. Your job is to make sure the language is spoken fluently and then to trust in the power it offers.
Intent to Collaborate
August 9, 2023 | bencallahan.comInstead of highlighting what folks have done wrong, be a student of what they've done right. Only then you can establish a system that is true to the context where it must thrive.
Good and Bad
August 3, 2023 | bencallahan.comA reminder that every situation is an opportunity and that a good part of the work of creating a more systematic design program is educating individuals and teams about the effort.
Observation
July 31, 2023 | bencallahan.comThe most critical skill for any design system leader is the ability to observe what is already working well.
Design System Doc Site Findability
July 28, 2023 | bencallahan.comThe second most important feature of your design system documentation site is findability.
Stay True
July 27, 2023 | bencallahan.comGood people will try hard to pull you away from the most impactful part of design system work—unity. Don't let them.
Design System Metrics Correlation
July 25, 2023 | bencallahan.comYour job is not to track everyone else's success. It's to correlate that success with the adoption of your system.
Step into the Stream
April 24, 2023 | bencallahan.comConnecting some learnings from Rick Rubin and Arthur C. Brooks on how being attentive to what's around us is a key to living a more fulfilling life.
Earthly vs Unearthly
April 18, 2023 | bencallahan.comThe juxtaposition between the "earthly" and the "unearthly" and a way to integrate nature into our everyday creativity.
Design System Culture
March 23, 2023 | The Sparkbox FoundryAn exploration of the undeniable link between an organization's culture and the approach of its design system. The technical and creative aspects of a design system are important, but they are only two parts of a three-part puzzle.
A Framework for Maturing a Design System
January 11, 2023 | The Sparkbox FoundryA very simple framework for maturing a design system in a healthy way. Because implementing a design system is asking everyone to change how they work, it's necessary to consider each task you prioritize through this lens.
Fluency
June 27, 2022 | bencallahan.comWhy "fluency" combined with "values-alignment" is such an important part of the hiring process. One is teachable, the other is not.
Consistency vs Flexibility: The Myth of Creative Restraint in Design Systems
June 9, 2022 | The Sparkbox FoundryThough they have numerous benefits, design systems are still sometimes seen as design constraints. Understand how creating a culture of trust can bridge this gap between consistency and flexibility in your design system.
The Anatomy of a Design System
April 13, 2022 | The Sparkbox FoundryA design system can unify different disciplines and lead to improved consistency, efficiency, and much more. Let's define a shared understanding of how systems connect core brand elements with digital interfaces and empower teams to work together effectively.
A Maturity Model for Design Systems
February 23, 2021 | The Sparkbox FoundryA model of healthy design system growth based on years of research. Learn the different stages of maturity and where your system fits.
The Never-Ending Job of Selling Design Systems
February 11, 2021 | A List ApartA collection of ideas on how to present the common benefits of design systems to the executives who must support and fund them.
Be Better: Impact
March 11, 2019 | The Sparkbox FoundryAn exploration of ways to make in impact where you are.
Be Better: Accessibility
October 15, 2018 | The Sparkbox FoundryA bit about the criticality of accessibility in our work on the Web.
Be Better: Unity
June 11, 2018 | The Sparkbox FoundryAn exploration of how design systems can help to build unity inside your organization.
Be Better: Investing in Your Team
October 16, 2017 | The Sparkbox FoundryA framework for investing in your team, leading to greater buy-in and innovation.
A Framework for Collaboration
October 9, 2017 | The Sparkbox FoundryA framework for valuable collaboration that considers the diversity of perspectives and the amount of empathy a team demonstrates.
Self Actualization
February 6, 2017 | The Sparkbox FoundryJourneying inward, not upward: this post shares how “Westworld” provides a unique perspective on helping the folks on your team become the best versions of themselves.
On Values
December 6, 2016 | The Sparkbox FoundryValues are the context for your culture. In this piece, I try to demystify “trusting your heart” by sharing that “your heart” is simply the things that matter most to you—your values.
Project Drag
September 22, 2015 | bencallahan.comSome ideas on how to shape your project work to create just the right amount of drag.
Cathedral
July 28, 2015 | bencallahan.comA few observations from my trip to see the Notre-Dame Cathedral about the immediacy with which we create today, and the speed with which our work decays.
Roots
February 23, 2015 | bencallahan.comSome thoughts from my reading of Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac about earning your heat and learning from the past.
Dissecting Design
September 4, 2013 | The Sparkbox FoundryA few ideas on how to restructure the design process to account for the inherent flexibility of the Web.
Group Improvisation
July 3, 2013 | The Sparkbox FoundryTo the industry obsessed with process and workflow, I offer this alternative approach to product design and development.
There is no Breakpoint
February 7, 2013 | The Sparkbox FoundryWhat breakpoints should we use in responsive web design? As commonly as it's asked, this may be the wrong question. Join me as we take a tumble down the rabbit hole, beyond the breakpoint.
The Responsive Dip
June 19, 2012 | The Sparkbox FoundryA 30,000 foot view of the Web industry's current state as it relates to responsive web design.