

On Design Leadership with Katie Dill & Randy Hunt
Jul 21, 2025
In this lively chat, Katie Dill, Head of Design at Stripe, and Randy Hunt, Head of Design at Notion, share their insights on the value of beautifully crafted products, especially in an AI-driven world. They discuss the importance of fostering creativity and taste within design teams, while advocating for 'fewer memos, more demos.' The duo creatively uses an ice cream analogy for decision-making and emphasizes the enduring power of strong design leadership, rituals, and collaboration in scaling organizations.
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Episode notes
Creative Brand Projects Build Culture
- Katie describes Stripe Press as a creative outlet that reflects the brand's voice through book design.
- The project shows how non-core work can push ideas and culture forward with thoughtful craft.
Founder Personality Shapes Product
- Founder-led companies often show a clearer through-line between business personality and product expression.
- That founder personality makes it easier to translate values into product and culture decisions.
Taste Is A Distinct Design Skill
- Great design blends problem-solving with an artistic sense of taste and anticipation.
- Organizations should hire for and protect that expert sensibility rather than treating design as interchangeable.