While reading a When To Rob A Bank I was struck by this passage:

when other people’s children have food clotted on their faces, it looks disgusting; with your own kid, it’s somehow endearing

It got me thinking: Every parent thinks they have the most beautiful baby in the world. Design systems are like babies. Maintainers stare at their design system day after day, and to them the quirks look endearing. I for sure felt this way about parts of the Pajamas design system.

But judging from the reactions of some colleagues who had to use it, the clotted food is disgustingly obvious.

I’ve certainly had similar reactions when reviewing consuming team implementations.

A good reminder to always keep a wet wipe handy, and that perspective matters.