Dive Club 🤿

Mariana Castilho, a talented designer turned builder with a dynamic background at Universe and Vercel, shares her inspiring career journey. She dives into the future of design engineering and the unique challenges of creating developer tools. Mariana discusses the importance of coding for designers and reflects on mastering these skills through persistent learning. The conversation also highlights the value of structured design systems versus flexibility and emphasizes the significance of community engagement for growth in the design field.

Janum Trivedi, a talented designer known for his work on the Netflix iOS app and the Arc browser animation, dives into what makes software truly enjoyable. He discusses the three levels of animation and shares insights from revamping the Netflix interface. Trivedi reveals the significance of shaders and his custom animation engine, Wave. He emphasizes the blend of design and engineering, bringing a fluid experience to users while illustrating how meticulous choices enhance user engagement and retention.

Ben Blumenrose, a former designer at Facebook and now co-founder of Designer Fund, shares his journey from design to investment. He discusses investing in innovative tools like Framer and the unique perspectives of second-time founders. The conversation highlights the changing role of designers in startups, emphasizing the importance of understanding business components. Ben also outlines the skills designers need for success as entrepreneurs and the transformative potential of integrating design and business education.

Henry Modisett is the Founding Designer and Head of Design at Perplexity, an AI startup valued at over a billion dollars within two years. He discusses the importance of establishing a strong design system from the get-go and why he values designers who can code. Henry reflects on the challenges of creating intuitive interfaces for AI products while avoiding anthropomorphism. He shares insights on developing consumer-friendly AI and the balance between systematic and experimental design practices, emphasizing simplicity and user engagement.

Ryan Scott, an early designer at Doordash and former design lead at Airbnb, now helps others amplify their design impact. He shares insights on presenting designs effectively and unlocking credibility. Discover his strategies for navigating UX debt, leading large redesigns, and speaking the business lingo. Ryan emphasizes the importance of collaboration and resilience in design teams, alongside the need for designers to truly understand their organization's dynamics. A wealth of knowledge for designers aiming to elevate their influence!

Oliur, a social media-savvy designer with a massive following, shares his insights on building a personal brand. He reveals key strategies for growing your online presence and the importance of consistency in content creation. Oliur delves into overcoming the cringe factor in self-promotion and how authenticity boosts audience engagement. He discusses monetizing design skills beyond traditional client work and the exciting journey of app development. With tales of accidental successes, he inspires designers to confidently share their work and forge meaningful connections.

In this conversation, Maheen Sohail, a senior staff designer at Meta, dives into the world of generative design and AI. She shares insights on creating new interface patterns amidst ambiguity, emphasizing that even experts are learning as they go. Curiosity is highlighted as the core trait for designers, while Maheen's passion projects, like using AI to colorize images of Pakistan, showcase the power of hands-on exploration. Discussions on ethical dilemmas and the evolving role of designers in AI further illuminate the transformative landscape of technology.

George Kedenburg, a design lead at Humane with a rich background at Meta, shares insights into the evolving role of product designers in the AI landscape. He discusses the shift from traditional UI design to intuitive, natural language interactions. George emphasizes creative problem-solving and how AI is reshaping software design. He also highlights the importance of prompt design and the experimental nature of working with AI, comparing it to navigating a well-stocked kitchen filled with unexpected orders. This conversation delves deeply into innovation and creativity in tech.

Colin Dunn, founder of the innovative image generation tool Visual Electric, shares his journey to democratize design through AI. He discusses the importance of user research in product design and the challenges of funding a tech startup. Colin compares AI to electricity, highlighting the upcoming revolution of AI 'appliances.' He also reveals the thoughtful evolution of his brand, from 'Prism' to 'Visual Electric,' and emphasizes the balance between user control and simplicity in design, shaping the future of creative tools.

Nate Parrott, the founding designer of the innovative Arc browser, shares his journey from engineer at Snap to his current role. He discusses the unique design philosophy at Arc, which prioritizes individuality and emotional engagement over uniformity. Nate delves into the power of rapid prototyping and how user feedback shapes their development process. He highlights the balance between creativity and user expectations, touching on features like Arc Search’s hook. The conversation also includes insights into his gamified personal website and the integration of AI in design.