What is a design technologist? Bridging the gap between design and development

Remember when companies were desperately hunting for “UX Unicorns” – those mythical creatures who could design beautiful interfaces and write clean code? As it turns out, these unicorns weren’t so mythical after all. They evolved into what we now call design technologists, though the role has become far more nuanced and specialized than simply being a designer who can code.
The intersection of creativity and code
Think of a design technologist as an architect who not only designs beautiful spaces but also understands the engineering required to bring them to life. We’re not just designers who can code, or developers who understand design - we’re professionals who deeply understand how these disciplines interconnect and influence each other.
At our core, we possess a unique blend of skills that span multiple domains. We understand design principles like typography, color theory, and user experience. We’re comfortable with modern web technologies and can implement complex interactions. But perhaps most importantly, we understand how these elements work together to create cohesive digital experiences.
How we shape digital products
A typical day in the life of a design technologist rarely follows a fixed pattern, and that’s exactly what makes this role so exciting. In the morning, I might be in Figma, crafting components for a design system. By afternoon, I could be implementing those same components in code, ensuring they maintain their design integrity while being technically efficient.
We often act as consultants during the early stages of product development. When designers propose ambitious interactions, we can immediately assess their technical feasibility. When developers raise concerns about implementation, we can suggest design alternatives that achieve the same goal while being more technically practical.
The bridge between design and development teams
One of the most valuable aspects of our role is facilitating communication between design and development teams. We understand the constraints and capabilities of both worlds, allowing us to prevent potential issues before they arise.
When a designer presents a complex animation concept, we can break it down into technical requirements that developers can easily understand. When developers encounter implementation challenges, we can translate these technical limitations back to designers in terms of design principles and user experience.
This bridging role extends beyond just communication. We often create tools and processes that help both teams work more efficiently together. From building design token systems to creating component libraries that designers and developers can share, we’re constantly looking for ways to streamline the product development process.
Crafting and maintaining design systems
Design systems represent perhaps the perfect intersection of design and technology, making them a natural focus for design technologists. We don’t just contribute to design systems - we often lead their development and implementation.
Our hybrid skill set allows us to approach design systems holistically. We understand that a successful design system needs to work both in design tools and in code. We can ensure that color tokens in Figma match their CSS implementations exactly, that spacing scales are consistent across platforms, and that components behave identically whether they’re in a prototype or in production.
We also understand the importance of documentation and adoption. A design system is only as good as its implementation, so we focus on creating clear guidelines and tools that make the system accessible to both designers and developers. This might involve creating custom plugins for design tools, building component libraries in code, or developing internal tools to automate repetitive tasks.
Evolving with technology
The role of a design technologist continues to evolve as technology advances. We’re often early adopters of new tools and technologies, always exploring how they might improve our workflows or enable new possibilities in digital product design.
Whether it’s experimenting with new CSS features, exploring the potential of AI in design tools, or finding ways to automate repetitive tasks, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of design and technology.
Looking ahead
The evolution from UX unicorns to design technologists reflects how our industry has matured. While unicorns were expected to do it all, design technologists are specialists in integration – bringing together design thinking and technical implementation in a way that elevates both disciplines.
As products become more complex and teams more specialized, this bridge between design and development becomes increasingly crucial. We’re not just translating between disciplines; we’re helping to shape how these fields evolve and work together.
Whether you’re a designer interested in code, a developer passionate about design, or someone who’s always lived in between, the field of design technology offers endless opportunities to shape the future of how we create digital experiences. It’s a role that requires continuous learning, adaptability, and a passion for both design and technology - and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.