The traditional model for senior designers involves proving design skills, then management capabilities to rise in rank. However, companies in the AI sector are focusing on individual contributors known as 'Super ICs'. These ICs are crucial for laying the groundwork for new user experiences and AI integration. Unlike previous technologies that created more specialized roles, AI empowers a single designer to manage comprehensive tasks traditionally handled by teams. This shift in hiring patterns reflects a changing landscape that values adaptability and innovation over management.
Most senior designers follow the same playbook that worked for the last two decades: prove you can design, then prove you can manage designers, then climb the ladder. It's predictable and feels safe.
Cutting-edge AI companies prioritize IC talent over managers. Granola, Perplexity, Anthropic, OpenAI, Replit, Meta, DeepMind at Google... they throw money at what I call the 'Super IC': talented IC folks who are at the absolute top of their game.
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