TLDR Design · OPINIONS & TUTORIALS

WHAT THEY'RE NOT TEACHING IN DESIGN CLASS—AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

figma.com6 min read

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Despite its critical importance, design education fails to teach business fluency; as Netflix's VP of Design, Steve Johnson, emphasized, "Design without business is just decoration." Early-career designers can bridge this gap by taking marketing courses, networking with cross-functional professionals, consuming business-focused content, and gaining hands-on experience building real products. Understanding business goals enables designers to collaborate more effectively and create a greater impact since design, craft, and business strategy work together rather than in opposition.