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Garry Tan

09/20/18

@ Y Combinator

If you know a problem exists but haven't found a solution, it may not be clear that design can solve it. Sometimes, the issue could be a business or technology problem rather than a design problem.

Video

Design for Startups by Garry Tan (Part 2)

@ Y Combinator

Design for Startups by Garry Tan (Part 2)

09/20/18

Related Takeaways

Garry Tan

09/20/18

@ Y Combinator

Design thinking emphasizes clarity in identifying the problem that needs to be solved.

Michael Seibel

09/06/18

@ Y Combinator

Identifying a problem that others haven't solved is the true genius in product development, not just creating a solution.

Garry Tan

09/20/18

@ Y Combinator

Design should not be for its own sake; it must solve real problems for users.

Bob Baxley

06/12/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Design is fundamentally a problem-solving methodology; the more clarity you provide upfront, the more efficient the design process will be.

Garry Tan

04/22/20

@ Garry Tan

There are two common failure cases for startups: either it's a real problem that people don't know about, or it's not a real problem at all.

Michael Seibel

09/06/18

@ Y Combinator

Founders often struggle to clearly articulate the problem they are solving; if you can't state it in one sentence, you don't truly understand it.

Michael Seibel

01/06/22

@ Y Combinator

A solution in search of a problem is when you build something and then look for a market or use for it, which often leads to failure.

Des Traynor

12/13/17

@ Y Combinator

I need to be aware of the difference between solving a small problem and a big problem. Small and rare problems rarely work out, even if the product is beautiful.

Mike Krieger

03/26/25

@ EO

Everything you build should solve a problem for someone; this is the core of design thinking, where you identify problems, research solutions, and validate your ideas.