'If You Were To Die The Next Day': CRED Design Head Sparks Debate With Controversial Advice

Harish Sivaramakrishnan, the design lead at CRED, recently caught the internet’s attention after he shared unsettling advice to product designers. In a video making rounds on LinkedIn from an event, he was seen urging designers to treat their work as “if you were to die the next day." Harish expressed frustration over the “slack attitude" among designers. He stated that a rushed project completed in two and a half weeks will never match the quality of a project developed over two and a half years. He encouraged designers to be proud of their work and invest in the necessary effort. However, his remarks garnered mixed reactions, as the majority criticised his opinion.

Harish said, “If you were to die the next day, you should be insanely proud of the detail that you drove into that release. Now the detail you can drive in the release which gives you only like two and a half weeks of sprint time, will not look like a release that you can do in two and a half years. I am aware, you’re aware, so that’s not the point. But there is a general slack attitude which says, ‘Quickly get something done,’ quickly you can’t get anything done. So my point is just to put in that right effort. Write the best copy you can, get the best visual design you can, get the best transition design you can, get the best API optimisation you can. To become that product that you really want, but attitudinally are you a person saying, ‘Quickly kuch bana ke phataphat se test kar dete hain,’ is the worst way to build. I haven’t seen a single product that has worked like that."

Reacting to Harish Sivaramakrishnan’s point, a user wrote, “On my deathbed, I’d be so worried about how I could have maximised shareholder value more than thinking about my loved ones."

Another shared, “If I were to die the very next day, I’d probably be more concerned about finishing my bucket list than the details in my product."

One more added, “On a lighter note, I sure hope I am not thinking about the details of the products I shipped on my deathbed."

Meanwhile, the individual who shared the video agreed with Harish Sivaramakrishnan’s advice and revealed that they look back at his opinion each time they finish a project. She was surprised by how many small details, which only take a couple of days to improve, can enhance the final product.