Graduation paths: When systems thinking meets the unconventional
In tech, graduation marks the moment something has been tested enough to be trusted at scale. In life, it marks the end of one chapter and the terrifying, exhilarating beginning of another. This talk lives at the intersection of both.
As a Design Program Manager for a design systems team, I've spent over 5 years collaborating with designers and engineers to turn inconsistency into infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, that component that took six months to name and thirty seconds to build has a lot to teach us beyond the Figma file. I have applied what I've learned along the way to build Storyland Collective, a monthly storytime program hosting interactive readings, live music, and creative activities for families and young readers.
"Graduation Paths" is a story about what happens when a systems thinker becomes a founder and what each side teaches the other. From system architecture to adoption strategy, I'll share how DesignOps and Design Systems principles are growing Storyland Collective into a community institution where families consistently gather, local businesses thrive, and stories belonging to our communities take center stage. Building something deeply human is what happens when systems thinking meets the unconventional path.
This talk is for designers, researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to bring fresh frameworks back to their teams — and their passion projects. Attendees will leave with:
- Frameworks for building contribution and adoption strategies
- Practical design program management principles that travel from systems work to UX practice to the project you've been sitting on
- Why the most unexpected combinations of your experience are often your sharpest competitive edge
In tech, graduation marks the moment something has been tested enough to be trusted at scale. In life, it marks the end of one chapter and the terrifying, exhilarating beginning of another. This talk lives at the intersection of both.
As a Design Program Manager for a design systems team, I've spent over 5 years collaborating with designers and engineers to turn inconsistency into infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, that component that took six months to name and thirty seconds to build has a lot to teach us beyond the Figma file. I have applied what I've learned along the way to build Storyland Collective, a monthly storytime program hosting interactive readings, live music, and creative activities for families and young readers.
"Graduation Paths" is a story about what happens when a systems thinker becomes a founder and what each side teaches the other. From system architecture to adoption strategy, I'll share how DesignOps and Design Systems principles are growing Storyland Collective into a community institution where families consistently gather, local businesses thrive, and stories belonging to our communities take center stage. Building something deeply human is what happens when systems thinking meets the unconventional path.
This talk is for designers, researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to bring fresh frameworks back to their teams — and their passion projects. Attendees will leave with:
- Frameworks for building contribution and adoption strategies
- Practical design program management principles that travel from systems work to UX practice to the project you've been sitting on
- Why the most unexpected combinations of your experience are often your sharpest competitive edge
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