Ensure one of your co-founders is design-minded. If you're a technical founder, find a designer who can make your product appealing and user-friendly.

To effectively integrate design into product development, startups should consider hiring a designer by Series A, especially if they have a user-facing element.

Creating a culture of high-quality design from the early days of a startup is vital, and founders must exemplify this commitment to design.

Encouraging more designers to become founders is essential, as developing a design mindset will be crucial for building the next generation of companies.

Designers coming from larger tech companies may find it intimidating to join a small startup with a limited design team, as they are used to collaborating with other design professionals. It's crucial to have a diversified team to create a positive work environment and clearly define roles within that team.

Founders should prioritize hiring talented designers early on to enhance their company's design capabilities.

The integration of design into a startup's process is essential for building products that resonate with users.

By Series B, startups need to focus on building a design team rather than just hiring a single designer, as having multiple engineers without a design team can create a challenging environment for designers.

It's essential for founders to engage deeply with design candidates, especially if they have spent significant time solving related problems themselves.