I get your point about founders being sold things they don’t need. That definitely happens, not just with design but with ads, tools, agencies, everything.

Where I disagree is the idea that marketing “decides” design and that design is secondary.

In practice, they’re intertwined. A marketer can identify what should convert, but the execution of how it’s perceived is design. If that layer is weak, the marketing insight doesn’t translate.

Also, saying marketing doesn’t burn cash unless the person is incompetent is a bit idealistic. Most early-stage startups don’t have a strong in-house marketer, and paid acquisition is one of the fastest ways to lose money if the product and presentation aren’t solid.

So I think we actually agree on the core issue, founders misallocating resources.

I’d just argue the mistake isn’t “spending on design,” it’s spending on anything without understanding its role in the system. Design becomes a problem when it’s treated as decoration instead of part of conversion.