Design Engineering

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Hey, it’s Kushagra. Welcome to this week’s AtlasMoth drop.

Does the design meet the code? Slack made it a movement.

This week, we’re zooming in on how Slack turned devs into designers and designers into devs, with a hybrid force called Design Engineering. It started with a test, sparked some fire, and now it’s changing how great products get made.

From plug-ins to polished flows, prototypes to power tools, this isn’t just code that works, but craft that vibes.

Let’s break down how Slack blurred the lines, boosted the team, and proved that when design leads, everything moves sharper, smoother, and smarter.

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Design + Code = Big Wins at Slack

If you work in design, you’ve prob heard the term Design Engineering. It’s not new. Roles like UI/UX Devs, Design Techs, and Code Creatives have been around for years.

At Slack, some devs care deeply about vibes and UX. Some designers care just as much about clean, fast code. That’s dope, and it’s helped a lot.

But the team saw room to level up. So they kicked off something fresh: dedicated Design Eng roles.

These folks focus on:

• Fast, smart photos

• Tools to help the whole squad

• Team support, like design-tech consultants

With more folks using Slack to do all the things, this just made sense.

First Test: The Champions Program

They didn’t just go all in right away. First move? A “test run” called the Design Eng Champions Program.

Devs from different teams could spend a quarter with the design org part-time or full-time. Like a “study abroad,” but for design work.

In that time, Champs dove into design-first builds tried wild new ideas, and boosted product vibes across the board.

They looked for devs who:

• UI/UX

• Loved tools that make the team faster

• Cared about the small stuff that makes a big change

People who joined didn’t just ship cool things, they left with fresh eyes and new skills. Big win for both sides.

What DE Does

After some rounds, it was clear: this needed to go pro. Here’s what Design Engs now focus on:

1. Protos That Pop
   Try wild new ideas. Break stuff (on purpose). Test things fast and make sure it feels right.

2. Fixing Key Flows
   Bring a high craft to core stuff. Raise the floor and the ceiling.

3. Build Tools for the Crew
   Think: Figma plug-ins, Slack kits, proto zones, anything that helps folks work smoother.

4. Act as Guides
   Be the tech-savvy wingman. Show teams how to build smarter, test better, and go bolder.

Making It Official

One big learning? This work takes time.

Most devs are used to having EMs or PMs help scope and plan. In design land? You lead more of the path yourself. So, folks needed more help shifting into that headspace.

They started small, one champ at a time. Learned a lot. Then added more. At the end? It was clear: This thing works. And it’s time to make it real.

Slack’s design org was already changing more skill mash-ups, more range, and more bold ideas. DE helped fuel that shift. It also proved that design can lead in ways folks hadn’t seen yet.

What’s Next?

The plan?

Go deep. Go wide. Make it last.

Slack wants to put design engineers in every team and on every platform. Think of it like a bridge part design, part code, all built-to-ship work that feels great.

They’ll still proto and dream. But they’ll also ship high-polish stuff folks use every day.

In Short

Design Eng at Slack is more than a job. It’s a mindset:

• Mix art + code

• Build wild ideas

• Help others go fast

• Make the whole product feel better