design-systems · ai · frontend
Design systems that humans and AI agents get right.
I'm Alex Andrade. I lead the design system team at 7shifts, created Sous Chef, and founded the Saskatoon React Meetup.
15+ years building software · 100+ components in Sous Chef · Brazil → Saskatoon, 2019
Writing
Latest · · 14 min read
Teaching AI to use your design system
AI agents are already writing your UI code. Here is how we taught them to use Sous Chef, the 7shifts design system, instead of improvising around it.
- #design-systems
- #ai
- #mcp
Everything I write falls under three pillars. Pick the one closest to your problem.
AI-ready design systems
MCP, agent context and docs written for LLMs, so AI-generated UI stays on-system.
Design system architecture
Tokens, theming, dark mode and the CSS that holds a component library together.
Quality and developer experience
Visual testing, the Testing Trophy and building a pit of success for every team.
Work
7shifts · 2022 → now
Sous Chef, the 7shifts design system
I led Sous Chef from the ground up: a React, TypeScript and Storybook foundation that turned a fragmented set of components into a themeable system of 100+ components. Chromatic visual tests run in CI, so every UI change is intentional.
Today I lead the design system team, working on semantic tokens, dark mode, and the MCP server that teaches AI agents to use Sous Chef.
Projects
Products I've built and shipped. Each one works from inside your AI assistant, not just from the app.
web · android · ios soonKilter Money
Personal finance, on your own or shared. See where the money went and whether the month is on track.
- Claude
- ChatGPT
- web
Rezme
Resume builder with designer templates. Build and edit your resume by chatting with your AI assistant.
- MCP server
web · ios · androidMy Beauty Time
Scheduling and management for salons and barbershops in Brazil. 4,800+ appointments completed.
- Claude
- ChatGPT in review
Community
Saskatoon, Canada
Saskatoon React Meetup
I founded the first React meetup in the prairies to give local frontend developers a place to share what they are building and learn together. At 7shifts I also lead frontend guilds on React, TypeScript and accessibility.
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Building a design system, or getting one ready for AI?
I'm always up for talking tokens, testing strategy and MCP. Follow along or say hi.