Pranitha Patil

This week, I watched a roundtable on connecting design systems to business value organized by Into Design Systems Community & Conference. A big thanks to the experts for sharing their knowledge! Elyse Holladay, Staff Design Engineer @ Color Marcela Rodriguez Joos, Design System Leader @ UPS Adam Lagerhausen, Sr. Product Marketing Manager @ Omlet Brian Alfaro, Design Lead @ The Washington Post It’s not always easy to directly connect the value of a design system to business metrics like conversion rates. However, here are a few key business benefits: 💥 Scalability: Supports product expansion with minimal redesign efforts. 💥 Reduced Maintenance: Lowers future costs by minimizing tech debt and keeping designs up-to-date. 💥 Reduced Tech Debt: Lowers long-term maintenance by standardizing code and design assets.

13

In episode 42, Alejandro Pérez Pérez sits down with Dan Chuparkoff. Dan dives into the role AI plays in transforming teams, startups, and big companies. 🚀 🎙️Dan Chuparkoff 🎙️Alejandro Pérez Pérez (Link in comments)

3

1 Comment

Not sure how I missed this podcast with Lenny Rachitsky but this episode with Katie Dill is amazing. There's a reason it has 47k views on YouTube. Just furthering my claim that the very best of Lenny's podcasts are not about product development or traditional product management. His best episodes are about design and business. "The use of the word beauty in books that have been digitized by Google has decreased,  like pretty dramatically. And it's aligned with this idea of, "Well,  functionality is king. Functionality is what matters." As if people think about  functionality and beauty as like two opposite things. No, they're not two  opposite things. Functionality is important. And actually beauty enhances functionality  because it does make things easier to use, more approachable, more comp elling to use.  And the other piece of it that is not talked about in business as often is just  the importance of how people feel. Things that are more beautiful, increase trust. You see that  we've put painstaking detail into this, and we care about the details of how something works,  and that gives you assurance that we care about other details that you can't see too." —Katie All I have to say is YES.

39

5 Comments

Working on Design Systems means dedicating your career to fostering "buy-in." This article provides excellent strategies for managing this throughout the product lifecycle. My favorite sections are "Offer No Easy Exits" and "Make It Everyone’s Baby." Read the article: https://lnkd.in/ei26MMjR Thank you for writing this PJ Onori! #DesignSystem #UXEngineer

36

7 Comments

From this week's class readings: Exploring circulation systems, spatial cues, and signage and their role in supporting wayfinding in mobile and web apps. #ia #informationarchitecture #uxdesign

2

Zypsy's new venture investment program, offering $100K worth of design services in exchange for 1% equity, presents an intriguing model for both the design firm and the startups. Zypsy is leveraging its design expertise as a critical asset in helping early-stage startups enhance their brand and product offerings, essential to a startup's early success. Pros of Zypsy’s Strategy: → For cash-strapped startups, receiving high-caliber design services in exchange for equity provides immediate value without upfront costs. This allows these startups to allocate scarce resources to other critical areas of development. → By accepting equity in exchange for services, Zypsy aligns its interests with the startups it serves. Success for the startups translates into success for Zypsy, potentially increasing the quality and dedication behind the services provided. → Zypsy’s roots in reputable firms and its successful track record can provide startup service and credibility. For a new company, being associated with a name with a legacy in design and technology can be a significant boost. Cons of the Strategy: → While trading equity for services saves money upfront, it can be costly if a startup succeeds in the long run. Startups must weigh the potential future value of their equity against the immediate benefits of professional design services. → The program caps services at a certain point, after which startups must pay cash. This could pose challenges if the initial design needs are underestimated, leading to unforeseen expenses. → The program's selective nature might limit its availability to a broader range of startups that could benefit from such services. Focusing on specific industries may exclude other sectors where design is a critical differentiator. Zypsy’s program makes sense on multiple levels, especially in how it offers substantial non-monetary value to startups, helping them refine their brand and product experiences without initial cash outlay. This can be particularly advantageous for startups at an early stage, where cash flow is a critical concern. But, startups should carefully consider the long-term implications of giving away equity and ensure that the value received aligns with the potential future value of the shares given. This strategy bolsters Zypsy's portfolio and places it at the heart of innovation, driving the brand and product strategies of tomorrow’s leading companies. https://lnkd.in/dHWU_wDZ #thenakedbrand #startups #equity

1

Biotech and SaaS tech brands often get slapped with the "boring" label. Too technical, right? But consider this—they're juggling a TON of complex data. Things can get...well, ugly. Even though our clients ace their product demos, their websites and brands in real life are still crucial. They're your front door. They should introduce your beautiful brand AND prove your complex products. Muy importante! We step in for two main reasons: ☑️ To make your data look as sharp as your brains (ahem, brands). ☑️ About your brand—we help tell your visual story, giving your brand an identity that transcends seasons and products. I'm super proud of this work, especially now with conference season buzzing for my bio and SaaS tech friends. Take a peek at this booth design we crafted for Ketryx—it's spot on at delivering their complex product while still being on brand. Like what you see? Comment if you think we nailed it. Struggling to weave your big story into your product or to get those complex visuals to match your brand style? You need us. Let's chat.

14

6 Comments

UX leaders: Better understand what motivates designers and how you can help them thrive by taking 3 minutes to read this excerpt from Scott Berkun’s new book “Why Design Is Hard”: https://lnkd.in/ev6XyMss

2

💡 One user research insight *doubled* revenue for a product line at a fast-growing startup — great anecdotes from design leaders shared at the Strange Design Fellows Kickoff yesterday. Design --> turning user insights into winning strategy. Stories like this make you wonder: why don't more companies leverage design from day one?

15

1 Comment

Join us *tomorrow* at SEP to learn about driving adoption in design systems. Jeff Putka and Josh Kriese will share what they've learned from successfully building, launching, maintaining, and managing Design Systems across multiple organizations and domain spaces. Cross-functional collaboration within a Design System team can be a significant source of friction, but it can also be something that empowers and strengthens the design culture of an organization. Throughout the discussion, we’ll take a dive into practical solutions for creating and maintaining a successful Design System at any scale including: * The Design/Engineering relationship * Designing for code as an experience * Maintaining a service mindset * Design System problem = everyone’s problem Let’s start thinking systematically! Details and RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gtiMTuxS

3

Create Health Ventures Launches Inaugural $21M Fund for Early-Stage Digital Health Startups  Create Health Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage digital health companies, has closed its debut fund, raising $21 million, surpassing its initial target. Launched in 2024, Create Health Ventures is based in Austin, TX, and Chicago, IL. The firm focuses on technologies that enhance healthcare access, improve patient experiences, and deliver value across payers, providers, and pharmaceutical companies. *Its primary focus includes:   1. Payer-Facing Technologies: Solutions that improve member experiences, enable seamless data and workflow integration, and scale technology across geographies.   2. Clinical Trial Enablement: Tools to help pharmaceutical companies recruit and retain participants for late-stage clinical trials as demand increases. *Founders and Approach:   Create Health Ventures was co-founded by Emma Cartmell and Amit Aysola, healthcare veterans with over 45 years of combined experience. They bring operational expertise, regulatory insight, and an extensive network to portfolio companies. The firm exclusively invests in startups led by healthcare industry founders, leveraging its unique value-added platform for scaling businesses.  *The platform includes: - Business development support   - Access to executive coaches   - Connections to healthcare leaders   - Cross-selling opportunities among portfolio companies  *Key Quotes by GPs:  - Emma Cartmell: “Founders from the healthcare industry understand the challenges and opportunities to improve patient outcomes. Supporting them is the most impactful way we can positively transform healthcare.”   - Amit Aysola: “Payers and pharmaceutical companies are driving demand for connected, scalable solutions, and we are investing in companies to meet these needs.”  *Investments and Impact:  The firm has made five investments so far and partners with foundations, impact investors, and strategic healthcare veterans to mentor portfolio companies.  *Portfolio CEO Feedback:   - Dr. Chip Grant (Watershed Health): “Create Health Ventures has been invaluable in scaling operations and fundraising.”   - Shara Cohen (Carallel): “They are the most collaborative and active investor team I’ve worked with.”   - Neil Batlivala (Pair Team): “They’ve helped us manage growth and reach underserved communities.” If you are experiencing difficulties in raising fresh capital and would require warm introductions to new LPs, contact G+QUANT     ▶ Please use G+QUANT's link for inquiries and fund decks, or send your inquiry directly to [email protected] #VentureCapital #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInnovation #Startups #ClinicalTrials #PatientCare #HealthTech #HealthEquity #CreateHealthVentures

7

Will the future of Generative AI be chatbots or AI-enhanced features? As I've continued to speak to product and design groups across the country I ask this question. Regardless of the make-up of the group, a clear pattern is forming, most teams are still focused on building chatbots. Similarly, the majority of people suggest their personal use of AI is with chatbots. At the same time, the big GenAI players are taking a different approach. Having built powerful general chatbots they are now expanding into features. Google continues to build AI-enhanced features throughout the G-Suite and experimenting thorought their products (see organize my tabs in Chrome). Microsoft creates more one click AI actions throughout windows. Even the foundational model companies are introducing Artifacts and Canvas to turn conversation into documents. From my cross-country tour, talking to product people across the spectrum of experience and fields, I believe the future of designing Generative AI solutions is still very uncertain. What one can control is the appropriateuse of GenAI, finding the places it provides the most value addition. #GenAI #productmanagement #reflections #design

31

2 Comments

🧬 This week's Austin Bio & Health Roundup highlights new funding, intriguing data, and major commercial & scientific milestones 🧬 💰 Funding Hello Patient, building Gen-AI phone agents for healthcare providers, came out of stealth with a $6.3M seed raise. Congrats Alex Cohen! And it’s Austin funding Austin, with 8VC a key part of the round. Aspira Women's Health, focused on non-invasive AI-powered diagnostics, was awarded a $10M grant from ARPA-H to advance their blood test for endometriosis. Well done, Nicole Sandford, Sandy Milligan, MD JD & team. Maxwell Biosciences, a synthetic small molecule drug platform, received ~$3M from the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) to find assets that will prevent wound infection on the battlefield. Fantastic work, Joshua McClure & team. Reminder: I don’t cover SEC filings. When the builders themselves announce, I’ll shout it from the rooftops! 📊 Data Clutch VC released its Texas Seed Funding Update (YTD Q3): YTD 387 seed rounds raised for a total $636M. Though deal counts are down QoQ, capital invested has trended upward, making this the highest quarter since Q1 2023. Health was the second largest sector with 27% of all capital raised so far this year, up from 16% during the same time frame last year. Great data & insights Rajiv Bala, Steve Coffey, and Caitlin McHugh. 🤝 M&A and Partnerships Lumos Pharma entered a merger agreement with Double Point Ventures, going private at a $38M valuation. 🚀 Launches, Expansions, Milestones, and Wins Oracle Health announced updates to its Data Intelligence platform, with enhancements to Clinical, Analytics, and Care Coordination products. 🤠 Texas Bio Triangle Houston-based Coya Therapeutics, Inc. shared positive results from a double-blind study of low-dose interleukin-2 (LD-IL-2) in Alzheimer’s, showing the therapy is safe and well tolerated with promising trends toward cognitive improvement. Amazing Howard Berman, PhD, Arun Swaminathan, and the rest of the team. Dallas-based Stone Mountain Ventures closed a $5M Fund II focused on health & AI. Fund I included Austin Bio & Health startups Legion Health and MDisrupt. Congratulations, John Diaz and keep looking at Austin for new opportunities! Quick Note: Some items this week actually happened last week, apologies if I missed them! Please tag or message me for future announcements so I can make sure to include them. What’s Next?

44

7 Comments

Are design teams ready for future challenges? 3 essential traits for tomorrow's design leaders: Cross-functional Fluency ↳ Bridging design, development, and business Data-Driven Decision Making ↳ Merging creativity with actionable insights Adaptive Leadership ↳ Thriving in-house, agency, and remote These traits fuel innovation and strategic design. Bonus: Design Leadership Challenges ❌ Siloed teams ❌ Resistance to change ❌ Measuring design impact ✅ Foster collaboration ✅ Champion innovation ✅ Implement design metrics Which challenge resonates most with you? P.S. Found value here? Share to elevate design leadership together. 🚀 #DesignLeadership #DigitalInnovation

2

Jessica Dubin is spot on! I've told several people recently that as much as I love designing and building digital products and businesses, I truly love bringing together collaborative cross-functional teams. This is where I find my passion. A connective tissue of transparency, relationships, roles, and teams. A culture of effective feedback. The status quo will not get you through the challenges that lay ahead. You should listen to this entire episode!

14

How Calendly increases signup rates by reinforcing product value and benefits 👇 Calendly is a scheduling tool that simplifies booking appointments by coordinating availability. We recently looked at their signup flow, and here's why their UX works: Feature Clarity 🔎 Make it clear what users are signing up for. Calendly uses copy to reinforce product benefits and trial features. Free Trial or Freemium Option 👌 Offering a free trial or freemium plan can reduce the barrier to entry and let users experience your product without commitment. Reduce Form Fields 😩 Limit fields to essential information (e.g., email and password) to make the signup process as quick and frictionless as possible. Use the above proven techniques by reinforcing value to reduce churn and increase retention. What's your favourite SaaS product? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll do a teardown 👇 Follow me for more UX insights for SaaS and startups. #ux #design #saas #startups

8

When it comes to accelerators, program directors must go as hard -- if not harder -- as the founders they serve. Particularly when working with early-stage startups, this is where they learn to walk the walk. Accelerators must continue to set the example through their own hard work. We discuss this at gener8tor frequently with our program leads across the country: 1. Build trust ✅ 2. Set the pace ✅ 3. Navigate the challenges together ✅ 4. Support the growth process ✅ 5. Advocate for solutions to founder challenges regionally and across the country ✅ It's our job to make founders uncomfortable. It's also our job to help lead our founders through temporary disorder.

45

🚨Calling All Design Pioneers & Product Innovators 🚨 "Great design doesn’t just solve problems – it builds movements." On Sept 28th, we’re bringing together India’s most brilliant design minds to unlock the secrets behind product experiences that don’t just work, but WOW. 🔥 What does it take to innovate at scale and crush design challenges? 🔥 How do you lead design excellence while staying 10 steps ahead of the industry? 🔥 How do you turn a good product to great products to game-changers? We’re not here for surface-level chats – Gaurav Mathur and Ramakrishna V will be dropping bombs on how to solve the toughest challenges and build products that truly connect. No fluff, just actionable insights. This is your shot to: ✅ Learn how India’s top design leaders are building at scale ✅ Crack the code to exceptional user experiences that actually move the needle ✅ Connect with a tribe of founders, product managers, and designers redefining the future of UX. 🗓 Date: Sept 28 📍 Venue: UrbanVault HSR Layout, Bengaluru ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM This isn’t just another event, and it isn’t for everyone. If you’re serious about leveling up your design and ready to play in the big leagues, Request to Join Now. Limited seats, approval-based – this is where real innovators show up. In collaboration with Produx Design Studio  community partner Unwind Ventures, and venue partner Urban Vault. #ProductDesign, #UXLeadership, #DesignInnovation, #UserExperience, #DesignThinking, #LeadershipInDesign, #ProductManagement

100

7 Comments