Designers and Startups

This recent shift in my career path occurred due to participating in an event called Startup Weekend. There will be a future post detailing my experiences, but really, this is what opened my eyes to the world of startups. Before that weekend in October, I didn't know much (or anything) about that domain, aside from what I saw in The Social Network. Geeks working 23 hours a day and eventually making bajillions of dollars.

I soon realized that startups are actually a really neat opportunity for a designer. Think about it. You're branding a company. You're creating a product. It all moves at a super fast pace, but the possibilities are so open. There are very few limits. And it's great timing for me to explore this because one of the current trends in startups is designer founders.

The Fast Company article, "Silicon Valley’s New Secret Weapon: Designers Who Found Startups", explains it all really well.

As the consumer tech market becomes more crowded, brands and experience design--not just technical capabilities--are becoming critical to success.

There is an influx of people churning out product after product right now. Everyone wants to be the new [insert social media fad here]. And good design will be what helps distinguish one product from the next. If the Startup Weekend I attended is any indication, there are not very many designers involved. Good for me. That makes me a hot commodity. :)

Enrique Allen sums up the article with this:

In the wake of Steve Jobs’s example, it’s obvious that designer founders should be champions of the user experience. They’re the ones who stand with one foot in the world of technology and the other in the world of people, bringing the two together.

The more I read about designers in the startup world, the more I feel that it might be the right place for me (for now). It's definitely something I'll continue exploring.