736: Building Design Systems Using AI with TJ Pitre
TJ Pitre joins us to talk AI in design systems, building and maintaining component libraries, the evolution of modular CSS and component workflows, connecting Figma and code, keeping components in sync across tools and teams, human review in AI-assisted workflows, Storybook, MCP tools, evals, and decision models like Jev for choosing components.
Time Jump Links
- 00:00:46 Introducing TJ
- 00:02:50 Why can't I just one shot my design system?
- 00:07:16 What were the benefits of design systems originally?
- 00:10:17 Most of us us component libraries in some form
- 00:12:20 Hwo does it work today with AI?
- 00:14:33 Do we have to ask for design systems for websites anymore?
- 00:17:38 What does a course teach us about design systems built with AI?
- 00:23:43 Understanding Evals in AI
- 00:25:40 What is Southleft's Console MCP?
- 00:26:45 How are large orgs using AI and design systems?
- 00:34:04 Using design systems built alongside AI
- 00:39:59 How close is AI design to CSS spec?
- 00:49:20 How do you manage the versions of design systems?
- 00:55:23 How do I get pixels on the page?
- 00:57:36 How can Jev help with design systems?
Episode Sponsors 🧡
AI & Design Systems ()
AI delivers speed, but can make a huge mess. Design systems encode your org's standards of quality, but can be difficult to wield. Together, AI & Design Systems are a powerful combination to deliver quality, speed, and scale.
Join industry experts TJ Pitre (Product Architect for AI & Design Systems at Figma), Brad Frost (creator of Atomic Design), and Ian Frost (veteran design systems developer) to learn AI & Design Systems core concepts, practical techniques to help your team deliver great digital products at scale.