99 problems.

I mentor a number of early stage founders and startups in my free time. (In fact I never turn anyone away, I can't help myself)

I love the passion, the business-to-business and business-to-company concepts, I love each person’s unique approach to the market. They show me their decks, how big the market is, and how they are going to take over the world. I'm get hooked instantly, I see so much potential and passion in them all. As I get more and more excited, I'm almost cheerleading from my chair. And then…

Silence.

Then, they pull out products only a mother could love. No calls to action, or too many, hard to read fonts, crazy colors. 

I ask them, "Do you have a designer?" The answer is always "No." Then they say: 

"I don't have money for a designer."

"My back-end is killer, I'll do the pretty stuff later."

"Nobody cares about that, it's all about ROI."

"What does a design do?"

"Why can't I just design my own stuff? I know what looks good." 

Why design?

Design is everything in an early stage startup. It can give you a web presence that’s professional and mature. Customers are more willing to convert (a.k.a pay) for a product that looks to have value.

That's not just my anecdotal thoughts, at Kairos we have not spent any money in marketing in our two years. Yet, we have 250 customers who have requested more information about our service, and 50 customers that signed up for our API in it's first 2 months since launch. When people come to our site, they can feel the care our designer has taken, and assume the same care and thought will be in the product if they convert. 

Design soulmates.

Our Head of Design, Ben Virdee-Chapman, is my design soulmate; my Jony Ive to Steve Jobs. 

I knew Ben a long time before we started working together, in fact, I didn't even know he was a designer for some time. He always said "I used to work in advertising." 

The great ones always downplay their talent. You have to dig deeper when someone is evasive about what they do. That's how you know that you have struck gold. If someone says they are amazing or brags about their skills, run far and fast. 

I finally cornered Ben after dinner and drinks. I insisted... "Ben, What do you do?" He smiled, and agreed to show me his work. I sat in stunned silence. My mouth was wide open as he presented me page after page of the best work I'd seen. His skill level was higher than the designers at Apple I had worked with.

I knew he was the one.

After a lot of arm-twisting, he accepted a position as the Head of Design at Kairos. He has been with us since, making Kairos behave like the industry leader we are. 

Great designers ask all of the hard questions, and help you to see your product through the customer's eyes. Great designers keep the customer at the top of the conversation. Great designers advocate experiences over features. 

Before you make that first hire, before you pay that outside firm to build your product. Consider hiring a designer. It's money, time, and energy well spent. 

We would not have made it without our designer Ben, I'm sure of it. Find your Ben.