Thierry Meier

Product Designer

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@WisprFlow the app doesn't recognise my Rode Wireless Pro receiver while the system, QuickTime, Monologue etc. all recognise it. Any way to fix this?

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@joshpuckett I agree, and I'd go as far as saying that this is a blessing for most Product Designers. I get to spend most of my time on problem exploration, solution validation and product strategy. Being an AI-pilled designer for me means I get to spend more time on what really matters.

[joshpuckett @joshpuckett]

I think this is worth some nuance.

In recent history, many companies have employed 'product designers' whose primary activity and output has been the creation of software interface facsimiles, e.g. mockups in a drawing tool like Figma.

Those making mockups have of course been doing more than just that, to varying extents leading or more commonly participating in the process of deciding what to build and why. But there was value in that tangible output itself.

I think @gokulr is directionally correct that the role of someone whose primary output is the creating of an interface mockup is quickly disappearing.

But the role of someone who figures out what needs to exist, why, how it should work, how it should should be positioned, differentiated and made memorable has never been more in demand.

I speak with founders on a near weekly basis (many of them in Gokul's own portfolio) desperate for this kind of person.

His conclusions though I agree with almost entirely:

there will always be an opportunity to specialize in the creation of visual interfaces, but more broadly most product designers who want to be employees (totally fine) should take on more responsibilities that have historically been done by PMs or Engineers, to varying degrees.

From my POV, this is just what a product designer is and what we should have been doing the whole time, but that's another post.

[Ben Blumenrose @benblumenrose]

1. This definition of product design is so sadly thin given where Gokul worked. Product designers do help with UI design systems but that's a fraction of what they do which also includes what product to build, how it should work, how to ensure people understand how to use it, how to create a brand people love and rally around, how the system should work together, etc etc etc but yes they'll need to do visual design of UI design systems less so I'll concede on that.
2. Design is not the "first casualty" and we have the data on design hiring - will release it here in a few weeks - https://t.co/TcFhUPUgAz but at least the top tech companies continue to hire top designers AND pay top dollar for those folks.
3. If you're a designer you don't have these “two choices” - you can also become a founder of a startup (not just a design agency) - in fact this is an incredible time to be a designer founder. You can become incredible at storytelling and help with brand/marketing. You can freelance as a product designer (not just a systems UI specialist)... and many more...
AND any product designer worth their weight already does/did PM/Eng type work... so sure if you're one of the few software designers that somehow didn't touch code or help with product strategy yeah pick that up it's 2026... you don't need a PM/Eng to tell you that.
/end rant

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@gokulr Design was never about just creating beautiful interfaces. Design is about identifying problems your customers experience, understanding them and then finding creative ways to solve them to create value for your customers.

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@chalaska Product Designer (and Founder) from the Coromandel over in New Zealand here 👋

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@gregisenberg I agree. A lot of people still work under the false assumption that AI makes things easy. But in reality, working alongside AI is and should be intellectually challenging, stimulating and draining. If it isn’t, you’re likely atrophying and creating poor work.

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@tlangridge hey tom, do you happen to use your https://t.co/4L3l6RE3zW domain still? if not, let me know :)

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@MikeySmithNZ Heard of ANZ doing 4.99% yet?

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@syswarren Surfing, freediving, spearfishing.

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@itsmarcosruiz Tweets

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@MikeySmithNZ I'm curious! Not often can you engage in fisho chat on Twitter, haha!

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@MikeySmithNZ Caught it off to Coro or up North? 🤘

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@rrhoover Freediving and spearfishing. Explore a whole new world, while learning a new skill, provide food for friends and family, bond with friends and be absolutely present and relaxed.

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@itsmarcosruiz Viral

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@lukeburgis Vizsla, ideally crossed with a labrador to take some energy out of him/her. Zoomie extraordinaire. Can be hard work, but high reward.

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@SimonJalbert SEND

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@Amy_Hoops 🤮

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

I am working on a slide deck – are there any sites that showcase great slide decks to use for inspiration (kinda like Siteinspire or Pttrns but for slide decks)?

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@qrsupport Still waiting.....

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@qrsupport can you please respond to my DM?

[Thierry Meier @thierrymeier_]

@qrsupport Still waiting