Jin Kim
@jin_kim
Product Designer @1K5°
Jin Kim
jinsu.kr
Design Engineering differs from vibe coding. It's based on deep understanding of principles, not just prompting AI.
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The reason why I need to have a solid understanding of software engineering.
Startups increasingly value the role because it allows small teams to move fast without sacrificing quality. One Design Engineer can do the work that might otherwise require dedicated designers and frontend engineers.
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Design System Adoption
Design systems built by people who understand both design and engineering are more likely to actually get used. They're designed for real implementation.
Design systems built by people who understand both design and engineering are more likely to actually get used. They're designed for real implementation.
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Business Impact of Design Engineering 4
Better Communication
Design Engineers speak both languages, reducing miscommunication and helping teams understand each other's constraints and possibilities.
Design Engineers speak both languages, reducing miscommunication and helping teams understand each other's constraints and possibilities.
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Business Impact of Design Engineering 3
Higher Quality Output
When the person implementing understands design intent deeply, details don't get lost. Animations feel right. Spacing is precise. The product feels polished.
When the person implementing understands design intent deeply, details don't get lost. Animations feel right. Spacing is precise. The product feels polished.
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Business Impact of Design Engineering 2
Faster Iteration
Design Engineers can validate ideas in production-quality code, eliminating the slow back-and-forth of traditional handoff cycles.
Design Engineers can validate ideas in production-quality code, eliminating the slow back-and-forth of traditional handoff cycles.
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Business Impact of Design Engineering 1
Working with designers to refine specs for implementation. Working with engineers to explain design intent. Bridging the gap in both directions.
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How a design engineer works with designer and engineer.
core value remains consistent: they compress the feedback loop between design and implementation.
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Bridging the gap between idea, design, and implementation.
What matters more than the title is the capability: can you ship beautiful, polished interfaces that work?
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I believe the design engineering task is placed somewhere between production and prototype.