chris dumler

Clint Ivy posts to the namesake blog and has me thinking about these @namesake conversation “after-questions”

Are we in an Age of Design? 

1. Is it true that good UX/UI designers are in short supply generally or is that a function of the technology sector echo chamber?
2. Is it a good time for professional designers and aspiring designers to be finding work?
3. Is Destin right that architects initiated the evolution of design as core to the business endeavor? (What are some examples of successful businesses/products with bad design?)
4. Can a product succeed on design alone?
5. Are we entering an Age of Design where good Design is the driving paradigm for product success?

As the Santa Monica startup community grows, I continue to have a difficult time finding web designers that have experience with UI/UX. It’s not that they aren’t around. It’s just that they’re slippery and hard to keep hold of before they disappear in the abyss. They also seem to be really busy.

But I’ve noticed another trend with local designers: they’re finding each other. While it may be hard for me to find individual designers, I’ve noticed that they are finding each other. And what’s more, they’re forming these small “agencies” to absorb a larger body of work.

What I haven’t gotten a sense of yet is the entrepreneurial spirit of these designers. Sure, they’re staying busy, but even as agencies they are operating in a service-oriented capacity. Not in a “I’m working on the projects that mean something to me” capacity.

And so I wonder, is this the next step for designers? Is there a culture of fear - the fear of “how will I pay rent?” - or is the risk tolerance there? Because there is a startup scene ready for the talent out there. And there is money to be made.

Check out the original Namesake conversation