Config 2024: A look inside teenage engineering (CEO & Founder, Jesper Kouthoofd) | Figma

Config 2024: A look inside teenage engineering
Join Figma CEO Dylan Field and teenage engineering CEO & Founder, Jesper Kouthoofd as they discuss the process of building inspiring products for the world while providing a behind-the-scenes look at the work currently taking place at teenage engineering.
Featuring: Jesper Kouthoofd, Chief Executive Officer of teenage engineering , Chief Design Officer of Rabbit & Dylan Field, CEO and Co-founder, Figma
____________________________________________________
Find us on ⬇️
X (formerly Twitter): / figma
Instagram: / figma
LinkedIn: / figma
Figma forum: forum.figma.com/

[@knotbin]

"I'd like to start off. You were... ✨a child✨"

[@hilmiarkan]

35:20 "Do you believe in user testing?" "No" *Dylan poker face* haha

[@Superminuter]

Hands down the best moment of Config2024😂

[@faruambient]

he doesnt seem to understand what he means with user testing / research 😀from his answer it seems focus groups..

[@cinderful]

Apple also famously doesn't do user testing . . .

[@faruambient]

@@cinderful sorry, but that's not true. Apple was one of the early adopters of usability testing, with their design guidelines from 1982 emphasizing the importance of user personas and considering all users

[@Scottotronia]

@@cinderfulor care about engagement metrics

[@jmsanchezcruces]

The world needs more designers like Jesper and less designers "by the book" that learn how to design in a 4 month courses and only repeat a recipe to do things like they were gurus without never think critically about design.

[@freh768]

Amen. Every UX designers head blew off when he said he doesn't believe in user testing or research

[@osamakhatri]

One day a guy knocked on our door and now he is head of our development 😂😂

[@zacharypennington8308]

And we're not sure he's good at it.

[@BentoBox]

This was by far the most hilarious interview I've heard at Config

[@denisishtokin1865]

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are Paperback - by Henry Petroski

[@hoonoh4907]

What a character. I recently acquired myself an OP-1 and after using it I became very curious how the creators came with such an idea. The answer to this must be no user testing!

[@alkhasov]

Share the slides please

[@ClassiKSouL]

i'm taking screenshots

[@tehgrrowl]

Would love to see a teenage engineering designed car dash/HUD

[@Mehboob-Mustafai]

Love this conversation

[@juergen_de]

Jesper is such a cool guy 😎

[@lukezane2696]

Highlights. 34:57 - 35:15 - 35:29

[@WrY0BiT]

Wow, now I'm a fan of him ;)

[@staysunnyexp]

That's why Teenage Engineering products are so fun to use.

[@rodderoon]

This guy rules

[@parnakdave3140]

Silicon valley vibes - "This guy f@#@s"

[@janyzhang1997]

One of the most interesting talk this yr imo 😅

[@Mood_Inc]

this was soooo good! thanks you!

[@soumyadeeproy9624]

This is a rockstar.

[@microfx]

gut bisher

[@keyboardcowboy666]

In my opinion good design has nothing to do with design authors. I disagree with that, because its a problem of ego, but i agree that is need to be good at problem solving. Thank you Config for this interesting talk.

[@justapplepi3]

Come here because of carl pei's tweet

[@puneeification]

Slides available anywhere?

[@cooptrol]

"I'm not a musician" that explains a lot!

[@oscardeee]

i'd like to apply for the mascot job pls

[@M_Simpson]

Where my 🕳 gang at!

[@udayabhaskar]

We're here buddy!

[@justapplepi3]

Phone (2a) is based on the original concept on nothing phone

[@chumleyk]

His perspective is from the artist designer, where people buy into your design because of you. Nearly all designers can't be that, hence his advice will be doubted by those 'generic' practitioners. He is to design as Gehry or Hadid are to architects - nearly all architects are unknown and replaceable creators of generic, low budget, and very disposable, buildings. You're likely not going to be that type of designer, but keep your mind open to the possibility or you will suffocate others with 'no's'. You'll have no unique points of view or differentiation and you'll be replaced by AI as soon as possible because your creative muscles have atrophied to nothing if they were there in the first place

[@bornprojects]

If you are not innovating, you aren't designing, you're just following rules. Designers have the obligation to always believe or try to become Gehry or Hadid, but with their own sense of identity. It's the only way you can truly be a designer. If you go into this career just to get by and get "work", it's not the right one. As a designer you need to challenge the norm, shake things up, and always improve.... It's a lifestyle

[@TheRealKingMidas]

TL;DW Translation: Don't be a dweeb or buy into every "rule". Have fun, dreams, visions and drive them to create cool shit with people who inspire you.

[@somelun]

okay thats why their products costs so much - to pay salary to all the mascots. this is really sad.

[@bjorngrauers]

I think Jesper does bring an interesting perspective however it sounds like a horrible company to work with. He is opinionated not willing to take in critique or feedback, bragging about how he likes to make decisions behind his staffs back and also shitting on many and most people he has worked with. claiming they are good for the company culture but "not particulary good at their job laughing*" It frankly sounds like a dictatorship management with a lack of transparency and inclusion in decisions. Lack of career progression and with the sole meaning of the company to make their CEO happy. Being a designer for close to a decade I personally feel he does not understand what it means to design, he is an inventor and creator but not a designer. Because the core role of a designer is to work for and with your users. with that i want to point out that I dont believe its easier to make art, one could claim it is even harder. non the less there are for sure good people working at teenage engineering, since their product do seem to turn out pretty good. It's just sad that he didn't give them a single remark. Also I would say it is weird to say all car design looks like a spaceship and they only know styling! and then collecting 80s Lamborghinis and praising them as the something special. Come on, is there a more space ship inspired car then the Countach?

[@Malodonaldoo]

asdsadasa

[@justapplepi3]

Come here to hear jesper's perspective on nothing

[@vinniep237]

a+ cope

[@chidorirasenganz]

@@vinniep237it’s a joke about one of his clients 😅

[@chidorirasenganz]

If he thinks car design is just styling he should talk to the folks at Tesla were form follows function

[@oksanagritcai9556]

Lol, really?

[@chidorirasenganz]

@@oksanagritcai9556 yep

[@TheCds777]

Man this was a bore interview lol and the dude was so monotone ha

[@vinniep237]

jesper is based. brian chesky is a wordcel - a sf status quo bro. be more like jesper.

[@impr4t]

this aint the kind of guy you wanna follow to be succesful

[@index_html]

With this attitude, he managed to create a successful advertising agency, which allowed him to buy not one, but several Lamborghinis. He founded Acne Studios, then taught himself CAD and hardware, and started Teenage Engineering, which is pretty successful. He's definitely not as successful as you in writing comments though

[@parnakdave3140]

@@index_html keyboard warriors be crazy! let him be...

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

@@index_htmlno problem with the dude but if a lambo much less 2 is your measure of success…that would be the reason above all not to follow someone 😂🖤

[@index_html]

@@ItsWesSmithYo I was talking about Jasper, who mentioned he wanted a Lambo and got a few. Money aside, wanting something and achieving it by doing what you like is success

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

@@index_html I respect the hustle on the re-direct;). keep it poppin' baby

[@uidentity]

Delusional Field has no idea how bad Figma is for designers . Does he think that design would rub on him? Hire real designers, not interview them.

[@chidorirasenganz]

Figma is amazing for designers also Field is a designer so you might want to do some research 🧐

[@bubu88134]

this aint it

[@rodderoon]

you ain’t it

[@vinniep237]

cope harder

[@RobTyleruk]

Quite a bit of dry interview but cool guy overall

[@pelangos]

Still don't know who this guy is I'm not a celebrity worshipper I support all my designer frens ❤

[@absolute_tk]

Dead Product