In-progress notes for founders seeking their first design hire:

• Designers are motivated by a culture that values their work — you can signal this through thoughtful writing & other signals
• Sell the role as an opportunity to establish the design culture
• People who have run their own creative practices (contract work, studios, etc) are more likely to have a generalist skillset (good for early stage) vs people who have experience exclusively in large teams
• Clearly communicate what your company stands for — who are you and who are you not? The best work happens when people are emotionally attached
• List a range for expected comp, cash and equity

Helpful links

• You Hired a Wrong Designer, Misha Frolov
• Hiring Exceptional Designers, Summarized from Designer Fund's webinar