This episode explores the underrepresentation of designers as startup founders and how designers can leverage their skills to build successful companies. Against this backdrop, the interview features Raphael Schaad, founder of Cron (acquired by Notion), who highlights the crucial role of design in creating desirable, viable, and feasible products. More significantly, Schaad emphasizes that design encompasses not just aesthetics but also functionality and the entire development process, advocating for designers to be involved in all stages of product creation. For instance, he discusses his own design process, which begins with sketching and quickly progresses to high-fidelity prototypes, often involving direct coding to get a feel for the product's interaction and usability. The discussion then pivots to advice for engineers lacking design expertise, suggesting practical steps like hands-on experience, surrounding oneself with well-designed objects, and studying design classics. Ultimately, the episode underscores the growing importance of design in the age of AI, urging founders to prioritize design thinking and talent acquisition to gain a competitive edge. This means for the future of startups is a greater emphasis on holistic design, integrating aesthetics, functionality, and the entire development process from conception to launch.
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