TL;DR:

Forget traditional design in emergent markets; it's all about market alchemy. Our role transcends mere aesthetics, venturing into creating and shaping uncharted market territories. Think of ourselves as modern Silk Road builders, not just connecting points but fostering entire ecosystems. This is design as a guiding beacon, turning great ideas into new market realities. Let's not just fit into markets; let's imagine, prototype and manifest them.

In the whirlwind of early-stage emergent market product design, we often find ourselves obsessed with 'good design,' like custom icons, fancy animated landing pages, and bespoke typefaces. However, the true essence of design in emergent markets, where no markets yet exist, lies in market making.

This revelation, inspired by discussions with my thought-partner Shuya, is that design is akin to market alchemy. We are not just fitting into markets; we're actively shaping them. If we merely fit in, we become quickly replaceable. Our design toolkit is for more than just aesthetics; it's for imagining, prototyping, and testing new markets, guiding the world through clear storytelling.

Imagine a market as uncharted as a distant galaxy. Our role as designers extends beyond placing products; it involves creating the universe for them to thrive. Design serves as both our paintbrush and compass in the wilderness of market creation.

We should embrace the role of modern-day Silk Road builders, not just connecting points but fostering cultural movements. Like the Silk Road, which transformed history through cultural and commercial exchange, our design is about creating ecosystems that spur market and cultural evolution. Imagine a new path, establish a market, and culture always will flourish.

This perspective deeply influences my approach to design. The most compelling projects are like digital Silk Roads, carving out and nurturing new markets and cultural dynamics. This goes beyond fitting products into existing markets; it's about exploring uncharted territories and cultivating them into vibrant hubs of activity.

Balancing the evolving product with brand storytelling and design expertise is challenging. True influence in design doesn't come from following trends but from unlocking new markets.

If you want that promised seat at the grown up table, we need to do more than apply good taste in design; sometimes, we're tasked with creating it. Our role isn't just about pushing pixels; it's about drafting blueprints for new markets. As designers, especially those adept at coding, we have the power to not just envision but also test potential markets.

The key takeaway is that great ideas don't just fit into markets; design can elevate these ideas and create the markets themselves. With the right design and storytelling, imagined markets manifest with proper prototyping. Design in early-stage ventures is about inviting exploration into new realms, using design as a guiding beacon. At its core, design is about imagining and articulating multiple futures compellingly.

If you're merely investing in existing markets, you're late to the game. Use the design toolkit to create and shape new markets.

(Slide into my DMs on the BirdApp if you want to explore this further)