Designer Fund | Substack

How Sierra's design team keeps up with an engineering org 20x its size

Our first AI in Design 2026 case study goes inside Sierra to see how a tiny design team uses AI build foundational infrastructure for a much larger…

Jul 20 • Designer Fund

Recent posts

Backing Fearn, and a call for design in regulated industries

The biggest design opportunities might just be hiding in patents, compliance, and other regulated industries. Here's why we backed Fearn.

Jun 25 • Designer Fund

AI in Design 2026: The inflection point is here

What 900 designers told us about AI, tools, teams, and the changing nature of design work.

May 20 • Designer Fund

Announcing our 2026 State of AI in Design Survey

Designers still don't have clear answers on AI. Our second annual State of AI in Design survey is a first step toward changing that.

Mar 5 • Designer Fund

Adora launches to map live products, Public's CEO on how to create emotional retention

We're backing Adora to help companies visualize every product screen. Plus lessons from Ben's time as Facebook's fifth design hire, and 10+ design roles…

Feb 12 • Designer Fund

Design is the differentiator: what we're looking forward to in 2026

What our team's excited about as we head into the new year. Plus: Julie Zhuo's advice on starting a new company and 10+ design roles in our portfolio.

Dec 2, 2025 • Designer Fund

A Match Made in Heaven

Why Figma is acquiring Weavy, an 11-month-old AI design tool

Oct 30, 2025 • Ben Blumenrose

Designer Fund

Designer Fund

Where design meets company building. Stories and lessons for early stage founders and design-led teams.

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