The Importance of Understanding Design Materials

This week’s episode is with Tyler Angert who was the first design hire at Replit. So we get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like designing for a hyper growth startup. However in early 2024, Tyler left to pursue a startup of his own, so a good chunk of this discussion focuses on his vision for Patina and the future of “spontaneous software”.

Some highlights:

• Why the camera roll is pivotal for AI
• Tyler’s advice to his 23 year old self
• Tactics for learning to code with Claude
• What it takes to design complex systems
• The skills that will be most valuable in 2025
• The biggest design challenges for AI products
• Strategies for learning more technical skillsets
• How to succeed as a young designer at a startup

• Tyler’s Freezeframe app with Jason Yuan
• Genesis physics announcement
• Granola meeting recordings
• Daylight computer