Many Series A startups don't have a dedicated designer.

They have managed to get by okay without one, or with quick entry-level freelance hires on Fiverr. At the early stage, in most cases, it's frankly not a make-or-break situation.

(Obviously, there are plenty of pre-Series A startups that are bullish on design and benefit greatly from it. The earlier the better.)

But at Series A, design is not decoration; it's leverage. 

You're no longer guessing whether the problem exists, instead you're deciding how to execute it in the best way possible. At this stage, design is the complex art of juggling between a few things:

• User research to reveal invisible (yet critical) workflows.

• A flawless user experience that creates momentum while reducing friction.

• High-level thinking and system implementation to scale design.

While it's challenging, there is something deeply motivating about helping a company raise its next round or find its exit.

High impact. High stakes. No gimmicks.

Just helping good teams make the leap from promising to undeniable.