Angus McGlynn 🚀’s Post

Design for scale... ...adapting your design strategy to fit Startups, SMEs and Giants Over the past 25 years, I've had the amazing privilege of designing products and experiences for companies all over the world and of all sizes… startups, SME and global corporations What I've learned is that while the creative process somewhat remains similar… the design strategies are not one-size-fits-all Each company size brings its own set of challenges, opportunities, and dynamics that require a tailored approach --- For startups, the focus is often on speed and agility With limited resources and a need to make a big impact quickly, design becomes a tool for rapid prototyping and validation It's about embracing flexibility, iterating fast, and sometimes making tough decisions to pivot when needed In this environment, a designer must wear many hats and adapt to shifting priorities, ensuring the product evolves with user feedback and market demands --- --- SMEs often find themselves at a crossroads They have moved beyond the scrappy startup phase but aren’t yet operating at the scale of large corporations Here, design strategies need to balance innovation with scalability It's crucial to create designs that not only solve current problems but can also grow with the company This might involve developing a more structured design process and laying the foundation for long-term brand identity while still maintaining the agility to adapt to market changes --- --- When working with large corporations, the challenge shifts to navigating established processes, multiple stakeholders, the political sea of decision makers and sometimes a more risk-averse culture The design approach here is typically more about incremental innovation… refining and enhancing existing products while aligning with corporate strategies and extensive market research It's also about ensuring consistency and cohesion across a broad range of products and services, making sure that every design decision aligns with the company's overarching brand and long-term vision --- Key take away is that adaptability is the key ingredient The best design strategy is one that evolves with the company's needs, whether it’s the rapid prototyping of a startup, the scalability of an SME or the strategic refinement of a large corporation How do you adapt your design strategy to fit different company sizes?

Why Your Startup Needs a Design System Before You Think You Do Last month, I watched a founder spend $50,000 fixing inconsistencies across their product before a crucial investor demo. The painful truth? 6-months earlier, a $15,000 design system investment could have prevented this entirely. Let me share why the "we're too early for a design system" mindset costs startups more than they realize... The Hidden Tax of Design Debt Most founders think design systems are about making things look pretty and consistent. But here's what I've learned after helping many startups scale their products: Design debt compounds just like technical debt. Every inconsistent button, every misaligned component, every variant of that "primary blue" adds up. And the bill always comes due at the worst possible moment. The Real Cost of Waiting Here's what typically happens without a design system: - Designers recreate the same components repeatedly - Average time per component: 2-3 hours - Multiply by 20+ components - Result: 40-60 hours of redundant work - Developers implement inconsistent solutions - 3-4 different button styles - 5+ text input variations - Multiple color schemes Result: Bloated codebase, slower development - QA becomes a nightmare - Testing multiple versions of the same component - Inconsistent behavior across features Result: Longer testing cycles, more bugs When To Start? Earlier Than You Think Key indicators you need a design system NOW: - You have more than one developer - You're building beyond your MVP - You're planning to raise funding - You care about speed-to-market - You want to keep your burn rate low The Startup Advantage - Build lean and intentionally - Create solid foundations that scale - Implement faster with less resistance Real Numbers/Real Impact from my recent startup client engagements: - 40% reduction in design time - 60% faster developer implementation - 50% fewer UI-related bugs - 30% decrease in design-dev handoff issues The Minimum Viable Design System Start small but start smart. Here's what you need: 1. Core Elements - Color system - Typography scale - Spacing rules - Grid system 2. Basic Components - Buttons - Input fields - Cards - Navigation elements 3. Documentation - Usage Guidelines - Component props - Implementation rules Remember: The best time to start was at the founding. The second best time is now.

Why Your Startup Needs Design to Actually Scale Any product could be revolutionary, but if the design is bad, users won’t stick around long enough to find out. Design isn’t just about being social media friendly, it’s about creating an experience that drives growth… Here’s why: 1. Design Is Your Silent Salesperson Your product should sell itself. If people can’t figure out how to use it in 10 seconds, they’re gone. A clean, intuitive design turns curious visitors into loyal users - without you saying a word. 2. User Experience = Fewer Headaches Good design means fewer support tickets and more happy users. Crazy idea, right? A seamless UX means your users don’t get frustrated, and you don’t waste time fixing preventable problems. 3. Quick and Scalable You need speed. WE GET IT. And I agree that in early stage startups delivering MVPs in 2-4 months is crucial! clean, scalable designs that grow with your business. No dragging out the process with endless tweaks. Just fast, quality design. Bottom line: Design isn’t a “nice-to-have” it’s THE ticket to growth. Ready to take your product from “meh” to must have? Let’s chat.

🚀 Why a Design System Matters for Startups? In the fast-paced world of startups, where speed, consistency, and scalability are key to growth, a design system isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. 🔑 Here’s why it matters: 👉 Consistency Across Touchpoints As startups evolve, multiple teams (product, marketing, development) work on different parts of the customer journey. A well-defined design system ensures that every interaction—whether on a website, mobile app, or email—is cohesive, making the brand feel unified and professional. 👉 Faster Iteration & Development A design system provides a library of reusable components, patterns, and guidelines. This accelerates the design and development process by reducing the need to reinvent the wheel each time. For a startup, this means quicker time-to-market and more efficient use of resources. 👉 Scalability Without Compromise As your startup grows, your product and team scale too. A design system ensures that, no matter how much your team expands or your product diversifies, the user experience remains seamless and high-quality. 👉 Empowering Teams to Collaborate A design system is a shared language for design, development, and product teams. With a single source of truth, collaboration becomes easier, smoother, and less prone to miscommunication or inconsistencies. 👉 Building Trust and Credibility A polished, consistent experience builds trust with users. A disjointed or unprofessional look can make users hesitant to engage with your product. A strong design system reinforces brand credibility and helps establish long-term loyalty.

Funding isn't your biggest problem. It's your design. (And no, I'm not just saying that because I'm a designer.) I've seen startups fail. Not because they ran out of money, but because their product looked like it was designed by a toddler. Here's why design matters more than you think: 1. First impressions are everything. Your product's design is often the first thing potential users and investors see. If it looks amateur, they'll assume your entire operation is amateur. 2. Good design makes your product easy and enjoyable to use. 3. A well-designed product can exponentially increase user adoption, retention and word-of-mouth marketing. 4. Design builds trust. In a world full of scams and shoddy products, good design signals legitimacy and attention to detail. 5. Investing in design early can help you avoid costly changes later as your product grows. So before you seek funding, ask yourself: Is your design giving your product the best chance to succeed?

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐔𝐗 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 In the early days of a startup, everything moves at lightning speed. Decisions are made quickly, and products evolve overnight. But what happens when your user base doubles or triples in just a few months? That’s where scalable UX comes into play. Picture a bridge—one designed for a small town that suddenly needs to support a bustling city. Without scalable design, that bridge would crumble. In startups, scalable UX ensures that as more users come on board, the experience remains smooth and adaptable. By creating flexible design systems from the start, startups can avoid costly redesigns and ensure long-term success. This involves considering future features, user flows, and potential bottlenecks in the design process. Implementing modular design components and maintaining clear documentation can empower teams to iterate quickly while preserving the user experience. Designing with scalability in mind allows startups to pivot and adapt, ensuring that growth doesn’t compromise user satisfaction. By focusing on scalable UX, startups can lay a solid foundation for their digital products, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

📊 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺? That’s a tough call! 🤔 Over the past 13 years, we’ve helped many startups and enterprises, and each approach has its benefits depending on the company’s needs. 🔹 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀  We prioritize speed by leveraging existing libraries. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆: • Libraries like Material-UI offer reliable, pre-built components. • Development time is significantly reduced. • Active communities provide frequent updates and new features. • Teams can ship faster and focus on core functionalities. 🔹 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 We build custom design systems for brand consistency.    𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆: • Custom components ensure a seamless, branded user experience. • Documented guidelines & component libraries improve long-term sustainability. • A custom system provides uniformity across teams and products. • It offers flexibility and full control over the design language. 𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲? 👇 • Startups with limited resources benefit from using existing libraries like Material-UI or Ant Design to move fast. • Enterprises with larger teams can justify the investment in custom systems for scalability and brand identity. • A common strategy? Start with a library and gradually evolve into a custom system as your needs grow. Now 𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥:  → Startups benefit from speed and value by using existing libraries.   → Enterprises thrive with custom systems for brand consistency and long-term growth.   → The decision depends on your project scope, team size, and business goals. Found this useful?  Follow 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 for more digital engineering insights! #DigitalTransformation #DesignSystem #MaterialUI #AntDesign #Startups #EnterpriseSolutions #WebDevelopment #BrandConsistency #CustomDesign #UIUX #ProductDevelopment #WebEngineering #TechInsights #WebPrism

Day-to-day in a startup can be absolutely chaotic. Like Ryan mentioned, things move fast and you inevitably wear a lot of hats. But, it’s an extremely good environment to rapidly learn, grow and thrive in if you’re up for a solid challenge. Side note, if you believe in the product and you have a healthy and trusting relationship with your team then nothing beats working in a startup⚡️

If you're (aspiring to be) a product designer in tech, the sooner that you come to terms with the fact that the industry has 'corrected itself,' the better off you'll be. Think about it this way: First, startups need to: (1) find fit between a version of the founder's vision and the market (2) refine that fit by investing in an interaction model with the 80/20 rule driving prioritization (3) shift focus to new markets, brand extensions, or green field opportunities, and eventually (4) slim down overhead with a focus on maintenance and line-of-sight towards an exit—from a PE purchase to M&A to an IPO. AND shuttering the service may come as soon as step (1) with a 90% startup failure rate, so there's that. Generally speaking, industry startup trends are (1 - 5, with 1 being a minimal investment in Design): (1) = A much greater investment in PM/ENG/DS than Design (1.5 of 5) (2) = Scaling Design to ratios that support HCD (2.5 of 5) (3) = Organizational design maturity and AI R&D may impact Design BIS (1 of 5) (4) = Keeping the engine maintained (1 of 5) Yep, it's rudimentary and worthy of hole poking, but a POV with a ~30% investment in the potential of Design (you) over the lifecycle of a tech startup. Second, over in FAANG+ land they've come to terms with the diminishing value of teams of designers and researchers optimizing widgets on a news feed or tweaking the interactions available on a video wall. While their financial circumstances are healthy, and Design has much better traction in these polished spaces, companies are being 'fiscally responsible' (a.k.a. speculative investments costs something these days), and they're cutting roles that aren't delivering dividends. And AI isn't Design-led. That doesn't mean Design shouldn't have a role defining how deep technology serves people's needs in a product, but most businesses don't focus there. See step (1). Designers must focus to consistently bring recognizable value WHILE being ego-less partners in moving the business forward. And design leaders must play to all of these realities, coaching up craft and wisdom while not over-evangelizing for how the sausage needs to be made (a.k.a. friction) The spaces most ripe to a wide range of Design thinking and doing—and will pay for our services—are in enterprises that need digital transformation: big banks, investment services, healthcare, government, etc. 2024 may become the Year of "UX Just Isn't That Sexy Anymore" to hordes of designers with visions of omelette bars and massages dancing in their heads. Industry opportunities are tight. If you want a career designing impactful products and services, you'll need to clearly frame up your strengths and pursue a strategic fit that aligns with your explicit capabilities. No matter what we believe about the potential of Design, each org, culture, and leadership team is unique, and will impose unique constraints for you to navigate. So do it with your eyes and ears wide open.

Have you ever wondered why design is crucial for startups? 🤔 In the fast-paced world of startups, first impressions are everything. A well-designed website or app can be the difference between attracting users or losing them. At RSQ Design Labs, we know that great design is essential for startup success. 🌟 Why is design so important for startups? Let’s break it down: 👉 User Experience: A seamless and intuitive design makes it easy for users to navigate your product. This keeps them engaged and coming back for more. 🚀 👉 Brand Identity: Your design reflects your brand’s personality. It’s your chance to make a memorable impression and stand out in a crowded market. 🌐 👉 Trust and Credibility: Professional design builds trust with your audience. It shows that you care about quality and are serious about your business. 💼 👉 Conversion Rates: Good design guides users towards desired actions, whether it’s signing up, making a purchase, or engaging with your content. This boosts your conversion rates. 📈 👉 Competitive Edge: In a competitive landscape, design can be your secret weapon. It differentiates you from competitors and positions you as a leader in your industry. 🏆 At RSQ Design Labs, we specialize in creating designs that are not only beautiful but also effective. Our user-centric approach ensures that your design aligns with your business goals and resonates with your target audience. 🏅 Ready to see the difference great design can make for your startup? Let's collaborate and create something amazing together. 💬 What design elements do you think are most important for a startup's success? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇