Jan 27, 2025
Death of a design engineer
Founder of Gumroad
A design engineer traditionally balances both design and engineering in one role.
Yet AI has shifted things yet again.
With AI’s growing capabilities, a good designer can now generate workable code, and a good engineer can produce UI following solid design principles. This narrows the middle ground, creating less space for generalists to shine.
Why hire a good design engineer when you can bring in a great designer who can leverage AI for technical tasks, and an outstanding engineer who uses AI to generate design elements?
Each expert focuses on mastery in their core domain, while AI provides support across boundaries.
The result is a stronger product with elevated quality on both sides.
This evolution raises the bar for everyone. With AI, anyone who excels in one skill can lean on technology to achieve adequacy in others.
As the overall competency floor rises, specialization becomes more critical for those seeking to stand out. Instead of finding workaround roles in the middle, specialists can continue to deepen their craft.
Will these specialized roles last forever? It’s hard to say. But at least for now, top-level designers still guide brand nuance, and top-level engineers still architect complex systems.
AI can augment these capabilities, yet it hasn’t replaced the depth of expertise that true masters bring to the table.
So what do aspiring “design engineers” do? Don’t join a team—build something new!
Then, gather a team of people who surpass even your own skills in design or engineering. Let AI fill in the gaps, and focus your energy on leadership and strategy.
The possibilities expand beyond juggling just two roles—you can now take on twenty.
