Understanding Today’s Design Job Market (Figma’s New Study + Daniel Wert)

By Figma

Categories: Design, Product

Summary

Design hiring has surged in 2025 after a slower 2024, with startups increasingly bringing designers in earlier to shape products from conception. Companies now define 'design leadership' broadly to include founding designers, IC tracks, and non-traditional roles like board seats and advisory positions.

Key Takeaways

1. Design hiring has picked up significantly in the first month of 2025 after 2024 was a slower year industry-wide, suggesting companies overcorrected during layoffs and are now reinvesting in design talent.
2. The biggest trend is startups reaching out for design and design leadership much earlier in their development cycle, fundamentally shifting when design enters the product development process.
3. Founding designer roles are a spectrum—some are leadership positions managing teams with headcount, while others are execution-focused IC roles; companies must clearly articulate what they actually need rather than using vague job titles.
4. Early-stage companies need versatile designers who can handle UI/UX, visual design, branding, storytelling, client engagement, and operational tasks—versatility is a feature at early stages but becomes a bug at scale.
5. Founders should look for designers who are mission-driven and willing to take equity risk rather than mercenary hires, as early-stage design roles require personal investment and lifestyle commitment alongside professional skill.

Topics

• Design Hiring Market Trends
• Founding Designer Roles
• Early-Stage Design Leadership
• Design Versatility vs Specialization
• Startup Design Investment Patterns

Transcript Excerpt

Daniel, thanks for being on. >> Andrew, thanks for having me. >> Uh, you are the CEO of Wharton Company, which is a multi-deade design, recruiting, especially design leadership recruiting firm. I'm just so excited to talk to you about some new research that we have, some findings that we have. Let's let's get into it. >> Always a pleasure and yeah, happy to help. we had these findings that the demand for designers is high and the the interest in design remains very high. Um what are you seeing f...