Amy Hupe

Design Systems and burnout with Sara Wachter-Boettcher

November 6th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  53 mins 8 secs

amy hupe, burnout, systems of harm

To round off the series, I’m speaking to coach, speaker and author of Technically Wrong and Design for Real Life, Sara Wachter-Boettcher. Sara and I talk about why those of us working on design systems are so vulnerable to burnout and what we can do to prevent it. We talk about the importance of living your values, advocating for what’s right, and - crucially - knowing when to quit.

Design systems and ADHD with Brad Frost

October 30th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  59 mins 39 secs

adhd, amy hupe, systems of harm

Is ADHD a barrier to working on design systems, or is it actually a superpower? In this episode, I talk to Brad Frost, creator, web designer, teacher, speaker and writer about his recent experience of being diagnosed with ADHD, and what the past few years have taught him about resilience and self-compassion.

Design systems and big life events with Amy Hupe (featuring special guest host Luke Murphy)

October 23rd, 2025  |  Season 2  |  57 mins 40 secs

amy hupe, systems of harm

What role do design systems play in supporting people navigating big life events and transitions? In this special episode, I move into the guest seat to discuss a recent life change I’ve been through, with help from special guest host and friend of the pod, Luke Murphy.

Design systems and gender with Lou Downe

October 16th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  56 mins 16 secs

amy hupe, systems of harm

How do design systems fit into wider social and political systems when it comes to gender, and the inclusion (or exclusion) of trans people? How do they perpetuate exclusion, and what can those of us working on design systems do to mitigate it? I talk to Lou Downe, author of the best-selling book, Good Services, about their experience of trans-exclusion, and using service and systems design to advocate for equity.

Design systems and accessibility with Léonie Watson

October 9th, 2025  |  Season 2  |  51 mins 56 secs

amy hupe, systems of harm

How can design systems help us to create more accessible user experiences? How can we win hearts and minds in the fight to create more equitable experiences for disabled people? Will AI help or hinder us in the process? In this episode I talk to accessibility specialist Léonie Watson, Founder and Director of Tetralogical, Chair of the W3C Board of Directors, and co-Chair of the W3C Web Applications Working Group.

Design systems and activism with Geri Reid

October 2nd, 2025  |  Season 2  |  53 mins 9 secs

amy hupe, systems of harm

What does effective activism look like when it comes to design systems and inclusion? Why are so many of us missing the mark when making the case for prioritising accessibility, and what can we do about it? I talk to Geri Reid, accessibility specialist, to get her tricks of the trade.

Applying systems thinking to our design with Sheryl Cababa

June 20th, 2023  |  54 mins 16 secs

sheryl cababa, systems of harm

To round off the series, I’m speaking to Sheryl Cababa, Chief Design Officer at Substantial, lecturer, and author of her, Closing the Loop: Systems thinking for designers.

In the episode, Sheryl and I talk about how our design work fits into the wider societal, economic and political systems around us and she shares tools and frameworks for making the invisible, visible.

Design systems and racism with Imran Afzal

June 13th, 2023  |  46 mins 49 secs

systems of harm

Imran Afzal is a Principal Designer working on the design systems team at Co-op digital. He’s written and spoken prolifically about his work on design systems, and his own experiences of racism and discrimination.

In today’s episode, we explore the ways in which design systems can perpetuate or mitigate racism in our digital products and practices.

Design systems and accessibility with Fred Warburton

June 5th, 2023  |  52 mins 11 secs

amy hupe, fred warburton, systems of harm

How can design systems help us to create more accessible digital products and services, and what are the limits to that? In this episode I talk to design systems manager, accessibility advocate, and good friend of mine, Fred Warburton.

Fred shares his experience with sight loss, and how that motivated him to learn about digital accessibility, and create meaningful change.

Design systems and dyscalculia with Laura Parker

May 30th, 2023  |  47 mins 56 secs

laura parker, systems of harm

Dyscalculia is a learning difference characterised by a persistent difficulty in understanding numbers. In this episode, Laura and I discuss her experiences with dyscalculia, and how design systems can help to create more inclusive digital products for people like her.

Design systems and trans exclusion with Luke Murphy

May 22nd, 2023  |  54 mins 2 secs

luke murphy, systems of harm

How do design systems contribute to trans-exclusion in our digital, social and political systems? What can we do to create more trans-exclusive experiences? In this episode, I talk to Luke Murphy, a design advocate and a good friend of mine who identifies as non-binary, to explore this issue.

Design systems and cognitive bias with David Dylan Thomas

May 10th, 2023  |  49 mins 59 secs

david dylan thomas, systems of harm

How does cognitive bias affect the way we design and make digital products, and the way people experience them?