Welcome to Design System Diaries

Lewis here. Lead Designer at Atlassian, editor of this newsletter, and —starting today—your guide through the many layers of design systems.

By day, I work on one of the largest design systems in the world, used by 500+ designers and thousands of engineers across Atlassian’s 19+ products. But I didn’t start here. My journey began at places like CommSec (part of Commbank) and Meat & Livestock Australia, building their systems from scratch.

I’ve spoken internationally, mentored rising talent, and built communities like Friends of Figma Sydney, hosting 10+ events for 1,000+ attendees. Since welcoming my son, Sonny, life’s gotten busier. Hosting big meetups is off the table for now, but the desire to connect hasn’t gone anywhere. That’s why I’m launching this newsletter.

Over the years, I’ve realized design systems are a niche within a niche. Most companies have just one team, often flying solo, limited by access to peers and best practices. That’s why sharing insights is crucial—so we can grow together, learn from each other’s wins (and mistakes), and push the boundaries of what design systems can achieve.

This newsletter is my way of contributing to that collective growth—offering a space to explore ideas, spark conversations, and tackle challenges head-on.

What you can expect

• A single, thought-provoking topic—on the challenges we rarely discuss

• Bonus tips in On the Tools—quick hacks to master your craft

• Opinions, not gospel—ideas to spark conversations and solutions

What I ask of you

• Engage: Read, apply and let us know how it goes

• Contribute: Use the web version to comment and open a discussion

• Spread the word: Share this with your team

🤝 Let’s build something better, together.

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