Build with Momentum: Design + Engineering with Drew Barontini

UP AND TO THE RIGHT by GO TIME DESIGN

In this episode of Up and to the Right, Phil Smith talks with Drew Barontini, a rare “full full stack” professional who brings both design and engineering expertise to product development. Drew shares insights from his journey from designer to Chief Product Officer at Differential, explaining why momentum trumps perfection when building products and how combining design with engineering creates better outcomes.

🧠 YOU‘LL LEARN
Why being a "generalist" gives you a superpower in product development
The biggest mistakes people make when building products from zero to one
How design creates emotional connections that drive business results
Practical ways to build and maintain momentum in your projects

⏱️ KEY MOMENTS
00:58 - Drew's journey from design to becoming a "full full stack" professional
03:50 - Current role as Chief Product Officer at Differential
05:21 - The unique perspective of combining design and engineering skills
07:30 - Biggest mistakes when building from zero to one
10:05 - The chair assembly analogy for product development
12:25 - Design mistakes in early-stage products
15:20 - What Drew is most proud of building (Code School platform)
18:15 - The ROI of design and why it matters more than ever in the age of AI
22:40 - What CEOs misunderstand about design and emotion
25:35 - The importance of the hero's journey in product development
27:15 - Advice for anyone building something right now
31:08 - What Drew wishes existed (better meal planning tools)

💬 Connect with Drew:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewbarontini/

🎙️ Up and to the Right Podcast
https://gotimehq.com/podcast

🔥 Get your design reviewed
https://gotimehq.com/design-review/

🏎️ Visit Go Time
https://gotimehq.com

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