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Why Are Prototypes More Useful Than a Product Requirements Document? · Y Combinator

Y Combinator

The New Full-Stack Designer

Marvin Schwaibold leads the product design studio at Shopify, where his team is rethinking some of the company’s most important products for the AI era. Before Shopify, he co-founded the design studio Molly, working with companies including Apple and Google and building a reputation for highly crafted, interactive design.In this episode of Design Review…

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Notes

  1. Does AI Know What Looks Good? at 0:27

    Marvin Schwaibold says AI does not know what looks good and what looks bad. He decides and steers it. AI has raised the ceiling, and it is not a crafter. Full answer

  2. Why Are Prototypes More Useful Than a Product Requirements Document? at 14:05

    Marvin Schwaibold says a working prototype is a million times more useful than any product requirements document, because it spreads through the company and a… Full answer

  3. How Does Figma Help Codex Build Motion? at 19:43

    Marvin Schwaibold uses Figma as a scratch pad so a broad sketch can carry motion he cannot put into words, then he gives the idea to Codex. Full answer

  4. Why Are Designers Becoming Full-stack? at 25:41

    Marvin Schwaibold says designers are becoming more full-stack, and he puts engineers and product managers on the same shift. Full answer

  5. What Is the Design Tool Dialkit? at 26:52

    Marvin Schwaibold plugs Dialkit into a project so variables can be created and then tweaked in place. Full answer

  6. What Is a Website's One Primary Goal? at 33:03

    Marvin Schwaibold says a website should have one specific primary goal, the main thing a user should do on arrival, and the whole narrative should be built… Full answer

  7. Why Put Important Content High on a Homepage? at 49:32

    Marvin Schwaibold puts important content at the top of a homepage because people drop off as they scroll. Full answer

  8. Why Do Two Changing Headline Words Confuse Visitors? at 52:40

    Marvin Schwaibold says two placeholder elements changing at once inside a headline disorient a visitor. Full answer

  9. Why Is Smooth Scrolling Bad for Websites? at 56:22

    Marvin Schwaibold says smooth scrolling on websites is a disaster in the industry. Full answer

  10. What Is Blossom Carousel? at 1:04:01

    Marvin Schwaibold points founders to Blossom Carousel, a carousel kit Jasper Voss has been building. Full answer

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