I've always used Figma for product design and can clearly feel Figma’s innovation and power. This morning, I read a related article by founder @zoink and wrote down some insights to record here👇

[One-sentence summary of the article]
After Figma’s IPO, founder Dylan Field deeply analyzes how the company built a tasteful design platform through unique culture, a multi-product strategy, and AI integration. He also predicts the future of product development and the designer’s role in the AI era.

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[Insights for startups]
1. Don’t develop “big company syndrome”
(1) Always ask “Why does it take so long?” and “How much padding is in the schedule?”
(2) Understand the fundamentals (especially for leaders) and know what’s truly hard versus what’s needlessly complicated
(3) If the foundation isn’t solid, don’t keep piling features on a flawed structure. Be willing to spend time refactoring the foundation.
2. Areas where users misuse your product are often seeds for new product lines
3. In an era of feature homogenization, “experience vibe” itself becomes differentiation, so focus on the product experience
4. Consider how long it takes a new user to go from registration to understanding the product’s core value. Can you reduce obstacles shown in diagrams so users experience value sooner? This may be more valuable than adding features.

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[Insights for individuals]
1. See yourself as a builder, not just a job title
For example, a product manager isn’t just for writing docs—they can also create prototypes, design UI/UX, and use AI to code and validate ideas.
Similarly, tech people aren’t just for writing logic—they can also understand and experience layout and interaction.
In the Vibe Coding era, cross-disciplinary abilities are more important, and AI will become a personal “amplifier.”
AI will eliminate people who only follow instructions. AI removes the repetitive/simple parts, leaving skills like asking questions, setting direction, making judgments, choosing solutions, and structured thinking/communication.
For individuals, knowing how to use AI is the baseline. Being able to use AI to make decisions and create taste that others can’t is the real moat.
So, I suggest spending time thinking about what skills you need to improve now—product inspiration? Aesthetics? Tech? Communication skills?
2. Learn to shorten the time it takes others to perceive your value
Think: From the time someone starts working with you to thinking “You’re really useful,” how long does it take?
You can learn from Figma’s approach:
(1) Provide samples or demos in advance
(2) Proactively eliminate friction in collaboration (like communication costs, messy docs, etc.)
3. Proactively practice taste (aesthetics) instead of just executing
Taste can be trained; for example, study top works (products/code architecture/design, etc.) and break down why they’re good.
Expose yourself to other disciplines (reminds me of Yu Jun’s “Product Methodology,” which suggests product managers understand psychology and finance, and Charlie Munger’s cross-disciplinary theories—worth a look when you have time).
Of course, it can’t just be your own taste. Ultimately, it must be reflected in the product—choose the most suitable style for the product, not just “what I like.”

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[Article link]