16. Pfizer's Design System, spatial design, and AI is coming after your (boring) job

Kevin Coyle, currently working with Brad Frost and friends at Big Medium, is an incredible all-star professional in tech currently focusing on frontend. While we cover the professionally interesting work of building a Design System within the giant that is Pfizer, we also cover some lighter topics such as AI stealing jobs, Blu-ray is ancient, and Apple's Vision Pro.

What we discussed

0:00:00—Introduction

0:00:49—Welcome Kevin Coyle

0:02:29—How did you get into Design Systems? Where did it all start?

0:06:39—What it's like working on Helix, Pfizer's Design System

0:09:20—Overcoming resistance to adopting a system

0:13:28—Origins and intentions behind DatePickers and Hero sections

0:16:42—How to approach each new client

0:19:17—Thorny experiences of open source development

0:20:39—Where does an "open mindset" come from?

0:23:00—"Design systems are simply a collection of decisions"

0:24:34—How strict to be following your system guidelines?

0:29:54—What's the future of Design Systems, and does AI affect it?

0:37:51—How does AI affect the incoming workforce's skillsets?

0:43:56—Gen Z don't know what a "folder" or "directory" is

0:45:55—CD's, cassette tapes, and ownership of media

0:52:16—Kevin's sci-fi novel

0:52:59—AR, Apple Vision Pro, and the beauty of spatial design

1:00:30—3-dimensional Design Systems, and abstracting physical actions

1:02:24—ChatGPT coaching Kevin on writing his sci-fi novel

1:06:25—Last words of wisdom from Kevin

Full show notes, resources, and the blurb to Kevin's book can be viewed at: https://chk.fyi/KuUo2T