Design management is evolving faster than ever. Kris Puckett, the "Ted Lasso of design managers" at Shopify, shares an unfiltered look at navigating this shift - from bombing his Figma interview to embracing AI tools he once resisted.

In this candid conversation, we explore why companies now demand player-coaches over pure managers, how to survive brutal job searches (publicly), and why "vibe coding" represents the future of design leadership. Kris reveals how AI finally unlocked his 20-year dream of building an iOS app and why being a "personality hire" might actually be your superpower.

Essential listening for design leaders adapting to industry changes, anyone struggling with job searches, or designers curious about integrating AI without losing their creative soul.

Some Key Takeaways:

• The player-coach model is reshaping design leadership - Companies want leaders who can both manage and make
• Being a "personality hire" is a compliment - Relational skills combined with craft create unique value
• Remote culture requires intentional effort - "We've lost some of our fight to maintain relationships"
• AI unlocks impossible projects - After 20 years of trying, Kris built his app using Claude and Cursor
• Failure teaches faster than success - Bombing interviews led to complete portfolio rebuilds
• Show the thing, not the deck - Vibe-coded prototypes beat presentations every time
• Patience with AI pays off - "The ones that are really patient... can get their idea out there"