Y Combinator Startup Podcast The End of the Designer–Engineer Divide
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Dec 12, 2025 
Ryo Lu, Head of Design at Cursor and former designer at Notion, shares insights on merging design with engineering. He reveals his journey from building websites as a child to shaping AI tools that empower designers to code. Lu highlights how AI agents democratize coding and discusses his vision of turning designers into proficient builders without intricate technical knowledge. He also critiques the evolution of Cursor's interface, emphasizing user-centric design and features that foster rapid prototyping.
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Start Building With Agents
- Try building with agent-powered tools instead of learning low-level coding first.
- Use agents to fill gaps so designers can ship working prototypes quickly.
Unify Features Around One Agent
- Unify similar product features into one coherent system to reduce user confusion.
- Present features as modes of a single agent rather than fragmented tools.
Prototype In A Mini Playroom
- Prototype in a lightweight, playable sandbox before touching production code.
- Use quick, living prototypes to test interactions and iterate fast.