Y Combinator Startup Podcast Figma CEO Dylan Field: How AI Will Transform Design
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Aug 8, 2025 
Dylan Field, co-founder and CEO of Figma, shares insights from his journey in transforming design processes online. He discusses the early challenges of building Figma, emphasizing the importance of user feedback and rapid iteration. The conversation dives into the future of interfaces shaped by AI, the essential fusion of design and research, and the critical skills needed in an AI-driven world. Dylan also addresses the ethical complexities of integrating AI with design, highlighting the importance of human connections and developing clear mental models for AI interactions.
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Designers Should Be Founders
- Designers should step into founder roles and start companies.
- Designers will multiply as founders and lead product decisions.
WebGL Origin Story
- Dylan and Evan chose WebGL over drones and explored games versus tools.
- They focused on building design tools and started Figma in earnest by 2013.
Buy Time With Early Funding
- Secure runway or funding to buy time to iterate on ideas.
- Early cash like the Teal Fellowship gave Dylan the time to discover the right path for Figma.