In the fast-paced world of blockchain and crypto, where innovation happens at breakneck speed, one thing is becoming crystal clear: design isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a game-changer. A recent thread on X (formerly Twitter) sparked a lively discussion on this very topic, emphasizing how hard it is to find top-tier designers and why they're worth their weight in gold for projects like SendAI.

The conversation kicked off with a post from Benja (@benjaminakar), co-founder of Tembo, who quipped, "It’s easier to raise a $5M seed round than hire a cracked designer full time." This resonated deeply in the crypto community, where funding flows freely but talent, especially in design, remains scarce.

Aryan (@_0xaryan), who's shipping SendAI and serves as nCMO at Solana, jumped in with a quote post that expanded on the idea. He agreed wholeheartedly, noting that "design/taste is what sets apart a great product from a good one." As a tech guy himself, Aryan admitted he didn't always appreciate design's power, but his perspective shifted dramatically over the past year. He highlighted how the "feel" of a product can transform user experience, especially in an era where AI makes copying features effortless.

Design as the Ultimate Moat in Crypto and AI

Aryan pointed out a crucial point for the blockchain space: "In the age of AI, where everything is easy to copy, taste/design of product becomes the primary differentiator for a user." This is particularly true in crypto, where protocols' inherent complexities often lead to clunky user interfaces. For meme tokens and AI-driven projects on Solana, nailing the UX can mean the difference between viral adoption and obscurity.

SendAI, part of the broader SEND Coin ecosystem on Solana, exemplifies this. As a tooling layer for AI agents, SendAI aims to scale Solana AI by 100x, hosting hackathons and providing open-source kits like the Solana Agent Kit. With integrations across multiple projects, including meme-related apps like Plutomobile for Solana perps and memes, design plays a pivotal role in making these tools intuitive and engaging.

Aryan didn't stop at philosophy—he made a bold statement on compensation: "Great designers should be paid the same as great engineers." He also encouraged designers to pick up coding skills, as the lines between design and development blur in modern product building.

Community Echoes: The Hunt for Design Talent

The thread drew responses from across the crypto sphere. Irffan (@IrffanAsiff), building PocketWallet, shared his experience: "No matter how good of a designer you are, you need an equally good design engineer who can make a product feel magical—which is a rare combination." Aryan replied, calling it a "chicken-egg problem," where great design is needed to attract top engineers, and vice versa.

Others like Biks (@bharathshettyy) noted, "Good designers = faster prototype," underscoring the efficiency gains. Nick Frostbutter (@nickfrosty), co-founder of Decal, lamented the scarcity: "Lots of tech and coders with good taste and ideas, but hardly any designers with good taste."

Even debates emerged, with Kai (@ikeacrisp) arguing that while coding is a plus for designers, it's not essential, especially as AI improves at it. Aryan conceded it's an "additional skillset" many are adopting.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens and Blockchain Practitioners

For meme token enthusiasts and builders, this thread is a wake-up call. Meme tokens thrive on community hype and viral appeal, but sustaining interest requires seamless experiences. Projects in the SEND ecosystem, like SendArcade for gaming or Plutomobile for memes, show how polished design can elevate user engagement, turning casual users into loyal holders.

If you're a designer with a knack for crypto and AI, Aryan is hiring at SendAI. As he put it, "You'll get to work on one of the most interesting products at the intersection of crypto x AI." Check out SendAI for more details.

In a world where blockchain tech is democratized, taste is the new edge. Whether you're launching the next big meme token or building AI agents on Solana, investing in design isn't optional—it's essential for standing out in the crowd.