Beyond The Pixel | Josh Cusick | Substack

I sent a live React app to Figma. Now I’m confused.

I used Claude Code to build a New York Times clone and pulled it into Figma with "Code to Canvas." It worked, but I’m not sure I understand the point.

24 hrs ago • Josh Cusick

If apps are dead, is context the new moat?

Google product leader Kathy Korevec examines the claim that “apps are dead” and explains how AI is shifting software toward contextual, continuous…

Feb 18 • Kathy Korevec

Figma variables still don’t understand systems

They’re great at holding values, but terrible at explaining how those values are derived.

Feb 9 • Josh Cusick

Apple’s Liquid Glass seemed like a disaster...until I looked closer

How a confusing new UI material turned out to be one of the best design upgrades in years

Nov 19, 2025 • Josh Cusick

Figma just proved everyone (including me) wrong

Figma’s latest design system updates mark a turning point for design systems and a wake-up call for skeptics like me

Nov 13, 2025 • Josh Cusick

Most Popular

Figma just proved everyone (including me) wrong

Nov 13, 2025 • Josh Cusick

Design system primitives

Sep 28, 2024 • Josh Cusick

Lessons learned in AI and design workflows

Sep 13, 2025 • Sara Clayton

Exploring design tokens

Aug 9, 2024 • Josh Cusick

Recent posts

Design systems as living systems: Rebuilding for what’s next

Emily Strobl, the Director of Product Design for AI and Design Systems at Rocket Mortgage dives into the history and future of the Rocket Design System

Nov 9, 2025 • Emily Strobl

You're looking for a design job all wrong

Insights and tips (maybe?) from a FAANG product designer

Nov 1, 2025 • Josh Cusick

Stop saying you're AI-native: start showing it

Cisco's VP of Design Jason Cyr explains what it really means to be AI-native

Sep 20, 2025 • Jason Cyr

Lessons learned in AI and design workflows

Hard truths and hopeful signals from a product designer at Dropbox

Sep 13, 2025 • Sara Clayton

Interviews

Vijay Verma: Design Wizard

Coding, design, plugins and more

Dec 15, 2024 • Josh Cusick and Vijay Verma

Grant Blakeman: Design Engineer

Design tooling, Figma plugins, automation, and more

Sep 10, 2024 • Josh Cusick and Grant Blakeman

Tiff Roberts: Design Systems Designer

Tiff Roberts worked on and led design system efforts at Chase, Wells Fargo, and CNN

Aug 31, 2024 • Josh Cusick and Tiffany Roberts

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