andi

FOUNDING DESIGNERS: In demand, misunderstood Taste, storytelling, aesthetics, and creative authenticity are everywhere right now. Designers are leading much of this work in startups, and demand for them is as high as I've ever seen it. There's no shortage of opinions (mostly from non-designers) about how this work should be done and valued. But there's far less conversation among designers themselves. The language has evolved, but the role is still largely misunderstood. I remember the same cycle a decade ago when I was starting a company as a designer—the onus is still on the designer to define their own path: - What is the right structure? What does a great company to join look like? - Do you have to want to eventually be Head of Design, or is staying an IC okay? - Are you also supposed to drive marketing/storytelling? Write production code? With AI changing the expectations, are you expected to be an engineer too? - And beyond the scope of the work, there's the isolation of likely being the only designer in the company. How do you get feedback and improve your craft? I'm hosting a series of informal gatherings, beginning with small dinners in SF later this month (and then NYC and more), for people considering founding designer roles. A few who've done it before, a few embarking on it. The goal is honest conversations about what the role actually requires, what it can become, and connections to companies looking for this kind of person. If you're interested, DM me or register at the link below.