Dan Donald
@hereinthehive.bsky.social
Design System Consultant. Design, Dev & Product. Prev zeroheight, Auto Trader, BBC
All about design systems, design tokens, product design and occasionally making music at @thesedeadmachines.bsky.social
All about design systems, design tokens, product design and occasionally making music at @thesedeadmachines.bsky.social
Pinned
With the end of my current contract at Gymshark coming to an end in Feb…and with the holidays inbetween, I’m starting to put the feelings out for a potential next gig
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
November 14, 2025 at 9:32 AM
One of many great #designsystems conversations over the last week: we need to stop using the phrase ‘single source of truth’. It’s bullshit.
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
One of many great #designsystems conversations over the last week: we need to stop using the phrase ‘single source of truth’. It’s bullshit.
Reposted by Dan Donald
AS IF I snuck this episode of Systems of Harm out yesterday without posting about it - but 90% of the design systems community was at Converge.
This week’s guest is none other than @bradfrost.com (‼️) talking about design systems and ADHD.
Apple: apple.co/4qQfR50
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
This week’s guest is none other than @bradfrost.com (‼️) talking about design systems and ADHD.
Apple: apple.co/4qQfR50
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
Design systems and ADHD with Brad Frost
Podcast Episode · Systems of Harm · 30/10/2025 · 1h
apple.co
October 31, 2025 at 9:35 AM
AS IF I snuck this episode of Systems of Harm out yesterday without posting about it - but 90% of the design systems community was at Converge.
This week’s guest is none other than @bradfrost.com (‼️) talking about design systems and ADHD.
Apple: apple.co/4qQfR50
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
This week’s guest is none other than @bradfrost.com (‼️) talking about design systems and ADHD.
Apple: apple.co/4qQfR50
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
With the end of my current contract at Gymshark coming to an end in Feb…and with the holidays inbetween, I’m starting to put the feelings out for a potential next gig
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
November 2, 2025 at 7:09 PM
With the end of my current contract at Gymshark coming to an end in Feb…and with the holidays inbetween, I’m starting to put the feelings out for a potential next gig
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
Give me a shout if you’re up for a chat!
Still in the place of barely using socials these days. Just not as interesting as it used to be, which is a massive shame…
Tell me something good that’s happening in your worlds!
Tell me something good that’s happening in your worlds!
October 17, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Still in the place of barely using socials these days. Just not as interesting as it used to be, which is a massive shame…
Tell me something good that’s happening in your worlds!
Tell me something good that’s happening in your worlds!
Get on board!
Only one month until @ffconf.org! I get to talk about our journey with web components, while sharing the stage with some awesome speakers 😁
See you there? ffconf.org/tickets/
See you there? ffconf.org/tickets/
October 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Get on board!
Reposted by Dan Donald
Published another of our #FFConf speaker interviews today. This time, pleased to introduce Hannah Clarke (if you're on bluesky, I've yet to find you!) on "An Uncomfortable Place" about building framework-agnostic components.
Get your ticket and see it IRL, interview here: ffconf.org/articles/202...
Get your ticket and see it IRL, interview here: ffconf.org/articles/202...
September 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Published another of our #FFConf speaker interviews today. This time, pleased to introduce Hannah Clarke (if you're on bluesky, I've yet to find you!) on "An Uncomfortable Place" about building framework-agnostic components.
Get your ticket and see it IRL, interview here: ffconf.org/articles/202...
Get your ticket and see it IRL, interview here: ffconf.org/articles/202...
Big fan of Mario Kart World btw
July 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Big fan of Mario Kart World btw
Reposted by Dan Donald
It's release day!
We're pleased to announce the immediate availability of WDC OS 2.0.
Updates include:
* Full Speaker Lineup
* Agenda for the day
* WDClippy if you need help
Tickets for the day are just £100.
webdevconf.com
We're pleased to announce the immediate availability of WDC OS 2.0.
Updates include:
* Full Speaker Lineup
* Agenda for the day
* WDClippy if you need help
Tickets for the day are just £100.
webdevconf.com
WDC2025 - October 10 2025, Watershed, Bristol, UK
WDC is the web conference based in Bristol, taking place in autumn each year. With great speakers and attendees alike.
webdevconf.com
July 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
It's release day!
We're pleased to announce the immediate availability of WDC OS 2.0.
Updates include:
* Full Speaker Lineup
* Agenda for the day
* WDClippy if you need help
Tickets for the day are just £100.
webdevconf.com
We're pleased to announce the immediate availability of WDC OS 2.0.
Updates include:
* Full Speaker Lineup
* Agenda for the day
* WDClippy if you need help
Tickets for the day are just £100.
webdevconf.com
…so how about you lot?
July 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
…so how about you lot?
The book is still very much in progress - awesome designer working on the cover and copy editor about to start work on it
Pre-orders once the design is ready from what I hear 🤯
Pre-orders once the design is ready from what I hear 🤯
July 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
The book is still very much in progress - awesome designer working on the cover and copy editor about to start work on it
Pre-orders once the design is ready from what I hear 🤯
Pre-orders once the design is ready from what I hear 🤯
It’s more than 6-months since my album came out. Still feels great that I actually did a thing
Once there’s headspace, so much new music to finish and put out
Once there’s headspace, so much new music to finish and put out
July 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
It’s more than 6-months since my album came out. Still feels great that I actually did a thing
Once there’s headspace, so much new music to finish and put out
Once there’s headspace, so much new music to finish and put out
While the day job is more design-side, it’s been pretty awesome working on a side project with @hannahc.bsky.social, learning a load of nextjs, api architecture, Supabase and all kinds of stuff
July 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
While the day job is more design-side, it’s been pretty awesome working on a side project with @hannahc.bsky.social, learning a load of nextjs, api architecture, Supabase and all kinds of stuff
Might see if I can get the ol’ social media reflexes going again. So much has been going on!
July 2, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Might see if I can get the ol’ social media reflexes going again. So much has been going on!
Just don’t have that instinct or need to post on socials these days. The demise of Twitter and the continued shitification of pretty much every other platform have sucked what little joy there was out of it
Anyway…hope you’re well
Anyway…hope you’re well
June 3, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Just don’t have that instinct or need to post on socials these days. The demise of Twitter and the continued shitification of pretty much every other platform have sucked what little joy there was out of it
Anyway…hope you’re well
Anyway…hope you’re well
Totally forgot about social media for a while. It’s been great!
April 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Totally forgot about social media for a while. It’s been great!
Reposted by Dan Donald
🤔 Are Design Tokens overhyped?
😵💫 When does theming become a nightmare?
💸 Have you ever had trouble proving the Design System’s value?
🌶️ Tomorrow, we'll ask all the spicy questions
🥳 Over 500 design system professionals have already signed up.
Are you joining us? 🙋♂️
lu.ma/c9lp044o
😵💫 When does theming become a nightmare?
💸 Have you ever had trouble proving the Design System’s value?
🌶️ Tomorrow, we'll ask all the spicy questions
🥳 Over 500 design system professionals have already signed up.
Are you joining us? 🙋♂️
lu.ma/c9lp044o
Into Design Systems Fck Up Stories 🧨 · Zoom · Luma
The perfect Design System doesn’t exist.
Our speakers will share their failures and the valuable lessons they’ve learned!
Join us for casual, real talk 🥵
What…
lu.ma
February 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
🤔 Are Design Tokens overhyped?
😵💫 When does theming become a nightmare?
💸 Have you ever had trouble proving the Design System’s value?
🌶️ Tomorrow, we'll ask all the spicy questions
🥳 Over 500 design system professionals have already signed up.
Are you joining us? 🙋♂️
lu.ma/c9lp044o
😵💫 When does theming become a nightmare?
💸 Have you ever had trouble proving the Design System’s value?
🌶️ Tomorrow, we'll ask all the spicy questions
🥳 Over 500 design system professionals have already signed up.
Are you joining us? 🙋♂️
lu.ma/c9lp044o
It’s interesting getting to know myself more
Like with onboarding at a new place - I kind of want all the In formation flicked into my eyeballs the minute I start so I can start digesting it rather than a chilled process to find your feet
Like with onboarding at a new place - I kind of want all the In formation flicked into my eyeballs the minute I start so I can start digesting it rather than a chilled process to find your feet
February 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It’s interesting getting to know myself more
Like with onboarding at a new place - I kind of want all the In formation flicked into my eyeballs the minute I start so I can start digesting it rather than a chilled process to find your feet
Like with onboarding at a new place - I kind of want all the In formation flicked into my eyeballs the minute I start so I can start digesting it rather than a chilled process to find your feet
Reposted by Dan Donald
Everyone involved in the creation of a product has an obligation to consider its ethical implications. You can’t outsource this responsibility or expect someone else to “figure it out”.
It has nothing to do with your job description, and everything to do with being human.
It has nothing to do with your job description, and everything to do with being human.
February 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Everyone involved in the creation of a product has an obligation to consider its ethical implications. You can’t outsource this responsibility or expect someone else to “figure it out”.
It has nothing to do with your job description, and everything to do with being human.
It has nothing to do with your job description, and everything to do with being human.
While trying to get to the end of the first draft of my book I hit that point repeatedly that should just delete and start again…so great to hear the confidence that my editor has in it. Just the thing I needed to power through 👌
February 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
While trying to get to the end of the first draft of my book I hit that point repeatedly that should just delete and start again…so great to hear the confidence that my editor has in it. Just the thing I needed to power through 👌
Reposted by Dan Donald
📣📣📣 I’m thrilled to announce that I’m doing a new advice show/series called Open Up I’m doing with my good friends at @smashingmagazine.com! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNnv...
ti.to/smashingmaga...
ti.to/smashingmaga...
Open Up with Brad Frost - A New Advice Show with Smashing Magazine
YouTube video by Brad Frost
www.youtube.com
February 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
📣📣📣 I’m thrilled to announce that I’m doing a new advice show/series called Open Up I’m doing with my good friends at @smashingmagazine.com! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNnv...
ti.to/smashingmaga...
ti.to/smashingmaga...
Great couple of hours with Street Group to chat through a load of questions and problems they have with design systems. Kind of cool not needing to prepare anything and field a wide range of questions from different disciplines and product teams. Maybe I know a thing or two 🤷🏻♂️
February 19, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Great couple of hours with Street Group to chat through a load of questions and problems they have with design systems. Kind of cool not needing to prepare anything and field a wide range of questions from different disciplines and product teams. Maybe I know a thing or two 🤷🏻♂️
Got a decent chunk of writing done yesterday (finally). Some of which went into exploring how we can prove monetary savings or similar value, which ended up covering a lot!
Is that kind of calculation something you’ve done? Did the saving _actually_ materialise?
Is that kind of calculation something you’ve done? Did the saving _actually_ materialise?
February 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Got a decent chunk of writing done yesterday (finally). Some of which went into exploring how we can prove monetary savings or similar value, which ended up covering a lot!
Is that kind of calculation something you’ve done? Did the saving _actually_ materialise?
Is that kind of calculation something you’ve done? Did the saving _actually_ materialise?
I’d often wonder what I say to my younger, teenage self about the future…
I have 7 different apps for car parks.
I have 7 different apps for car parks.
February 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I’d often wonder what I say to my younger, teenage self about the future…
I have 7 different apps for car parks.
I have 7 different apps for car parks.
Reposted by Dan Donald
With the attr() updates I’m pretty sure you could make a real #WebComponent without any JavaScript, and it would be useful!
Dang I'm excited about new semantic attr() capabilities in CSS!
I wrote a post about why this feature is so powerful, how it could change the way you build components, and how I would use it.
Advanced attr() is rolling out in Chrome 133 starting next week 🥰
una.im/advanced-attr/
I wrote a post about why this feature is so powerful, how it could change the way you build components, and how I would use it.
Advanced attr() is rolling out in Chrome 133 starting next week 🥰
una.im/advanced-attr/
una.im | New capabilities for attr()
Advanced attr() is landing in Chrome 133, and I'm really excited for this feature! Here's a bit about it and how you can use it.
una.im
February 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
With the attr() updates I’m pretty sure you could make a real #WebComponent without any JavaScript, and it would be useful!