In this episode of 'The Next Next,' I interview Ben Blumenrose, co-founder and Managing Partner at Designer Fund.
This was a follow-up to the episode with Jeremy Crane, where we dug into AI and what it means for the future of product management. I thought it would be fun to have a similar discussion about design, and Ben is the perfect person to chat with about that, given his long design career, and his current advocacy for more design founders in his role as a venture capitalist.
Ben has recently been digging into and writing about how AI is and will be impacting the design process, and how it is creating a lane for more design founders to flourish. We dig into all of that and more, in what ends up being a terrific and comprehensive discussion.
I hope you enjoy!
You can find it on spotify, apple, youtube, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Show notes:
00:00 Introduction to Ben Blumenrose and Designer Fund
00:42 The Evolution of Design and AI's Impact
01:16 The Next Next: A Learning Journey
01:56 Ben Blumenrose's Background and Career
03:21 AI's Role in Modern Design
06:19 The Changing Landscape of Design Education
26:10 The Rise of Design Founders
31:12 The Rise of Design in Startups
31:31 Challenges Faced by Designer Founders
31:49 The Impact of Design on Company Success
32:42 Convincing Investors About Design
34:34 The Role of Designers in AI
38:05 The Future of Product Development
41:27 The Evolution of Design and Engineering Roles
43:57 New Tools and Processes in Design
47:54 Building Software Faster Than Searching
51:23 Implications for Venture Capital
57:42 Leveraging Tools at Designer Fund
59:32 Encouragement for Designers and Tinkerers
01:02:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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