Design Different
For independent thinkers in design and business.
Design Different is a podcast for experienced designers ready to build something of their own, and for founders who understand that design isn’t just decoration: it’s how your business works.
With decades of global experience across agencies, corporates, and independent studios, Jake Burdess breaks down what makes creative work not just look good, but actually work.
Expect thoughtful takes on systems, strategy, and the realities of modern design - all without the hype. Whether you’re building your own practice or your own company, this show will help you think more clearly and design more deliberately.
Clarity. Systems. Design that works.
Design Different
DD0015 - Design Systems That Breathe: How to Keep Yours Alive
Most design systems launch in a blaze of excitement, then fade into cluttered folders and copy-pasted code. In this episode of Design Different I explain why that slow decay happens, how to run a design system as a living product, and what founders, designers, and developers can do to keep it breathing. Expect practical tactics, real-world stories, and a checklist you can act on tomorrow to turn pixel-perfect libraries into business-critical infrastructure.
Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/anatomy-of-a-design-system/
