Jeremy Blaze Advocates for Daily Code Shipping by Designers, Citing Industry Evolution

Jeremy Blaze, a prominent figure in product design and the founder of Never Before Seen, a strategic product design agency, recently asserted that "Designers should be shipping code daily." This statement, shared on social media, highlights a growing sentiment within the tech industry regarding the evolving role of designers and the increasing integration of design and development workflows. Blaze, also Head of Product at Hill, a marketplace for pre-IPO companies, has a background rooted in practical product design and the strategic application of technology.

Blaze's philosophy aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing efficiency and a deeper understanding of technical implementation within the design process. His agency, Never Before Seen, focuses on partnering with early-stage startups to execute product and design, often leveraging AI and streamlined workflows. This approach necessitates designers to be intimately familiar with the technical aspects of product creation, moving beyond purely visual aesthetics to tangible, functional outputs.

The concept of designers actively engaging with code, often referred to as "designers who code" or "full-stack designers," is gaining traction. This trend is driven by the need for faster iteration cycles, improved collaboration between design and engineering teams, and a more holistic understanding of user experience from conception to deployment. Companies are increasingly seeking designers who can not only craft compelling visuals and user flows but also contribute directly to the front-end implementation, thereby accelerating product development.

This integration allows designers to better understand the technical feasibility and constraints of their creations, leading to more realistic and efficient designs. It also fosters a more agile development environment where feedback loops are shortened, and design changes can be implemented and tested rapidly. The push for designers to ship code daily reflects a move towards a more hands-on, cross-functional role, blurring traditional departmental boundaries and fostering a culture of shared ownership over the final product.