Happy 2026! Thank you for being part of our community as we step into what’s shaping up to be a big season ahead.
This month, we’re sharing a few standout updates, including a new chapter for our podcast, a lineup of thoughtful interviews featuring our CEO, and what’s coming up next in our Patterns Summit events. Whether you’re here for the stories, the insights, or the community moments, there’s something in this issue for you. Read on for the highlights.
Podcast
Coming Soon: Patterns Podcast
We’re excited to share that The Design Systems Podcast is getting a new name (and new look) this month: Patterns Podcast. You can catch our first episode on Tuesday, January 27th.
You’ll still hear the thoughtful, in-depth discussions you know and love, but with a wide range of perspectives from acrid the digital product landscape.
Podcast
Stop Designing Screens. Start Designing Patterns. - AI for Founders with Ryan Estes
Our CEO and co-founder, Chris Strahl, joinedRyan Esteson the AI for Founderspodcast to discuss Knapsack’s core philosophy: building using patterns.
Chris discusses his experience watching high-performing teams get buried in edge cases, forks, and silent product drift and realizing the fix wasn’t more syncs - it was fewer interpretations.
Most teams aren’t using AI in a scalable way. They’re using it to generate artifacts that have no connection to the code that actually ships. In an interview with Unite.AI, Chris Strahl explains why AI fails when it’s layered on top of static design files, disconnected systems, and outdated workflows. Without a real system of record, AI doesn’t create leverage, it just accelerates inconsistency. The future of AI-driven product creation depends on infrastructure that reflects reality.
When AI Can Do Everything Else, Your Job Is To Make It Good by Robin Cannon
Our Head of Product, Robin Cannon, explores a topic that’s generating a lot of anxiety—not just in tech, but across industries: the fear that AI will take human jobs.
In his latest article, Robin reframes that fear as an opportunity. Rather than replacing people, AI removes the constraints that have held us back from doing our best work, by handling repetitive, time-consuming tasks so teams can focus on creation, iteration, and quality.
We've got a great line up for 2026! Our Patterns Summit in Atlanta has a full guest list already, but there are still plenty of opportunities to attend a future event near you!
Upcoming Locations & Dates:
Atlanta, GA | January 29
San Francisco, CA | February 25
Houston, TX | March 19
Pittsburgh, PA | April 23
Minneapolis, MN | May 14
Denver, CO | June 11
Our events are invitation-only gatherings and limited in size to ensure the best environment for shared learning. Apply to request your invitation or to join our waitlist for more cities.
