What Founders Can Do To Improve Their Design Game

TL;DR

Rafael Shad, designer and founder of Kron (acquired by Notion, became Notion Calendar), argues that design is about how it works and how it’s built, not just how it looks. He explains that designers are well-suited to founding companies because they focus on desirability (making something people want) and now control the means of production through software.

Key insights

• Designers bring a unique advantage: they focus on desirability, one of three overlapping pillars needed for a successful product (desirability, feasibility, viability), which map to design, technology
• Historically, designers didn't control the means of production (e.g., furniture), but now software and code allow them to be close to building the product itself, making this moment ideal for designer
• Learning to code is not strictly necessary, but being comfortable in the medium (software) is a huge advantage, especially in the AI age where design shifts from static nouns (buttons, text fields) to