Y Combinator Startup Podcast Cursor Head of Design Reviews Startup Websites
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Nov 20, 2025 
Ryo Lu, Head of Design at Cursor and former designer at Notion, Stripe, and Asana, shares his insights on what makes effective product websites. He critiques various startup sites, emphasizing the importance of clear messaging and strong branding. Ryo advises avoiding generic design choices that AI often produces. He also discusses simplifying jargon and enhancing user engagement through clearer calls to action. With practical tips from real examples, the conversation highlights how thoughtful design can significantly impact user understanding.
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Explain The Product In The Hero
- Make your hero explain exactly what the product does and who it’s for within five seconds.
- Use a literal subheadline that speaks the target user's language and removes vague marketing jargon.
Ditch Default AI Styling
- Avoid default AI styling like massive shadows, purple gradients, and bad typography.
- Start with clean system fonts and robust foundational tokens before composing with AI.
Show What Makes You Different
- Provide clear differentiators to explain why your product matters compared to competitors.
- Answer the user's questions: What is this? Is it for me? Does it work?