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Buyer beware

I’m going to Config this year. It’s my first time. These kinds of events aren’t my wheel house. I don’t like being sold and I’m not into dog and pony shows. Config’s Venn Diagram of those two would be a perfect circle.

To be clear, I don’t blame Figma. This is their job. We, the consumer, aren’t holding up our end of the bargain. The job of the business is to sell. To pitch everything with the rosiest tint possible. To make their product look irresistible. The consumers’ job is to be aware of this and act correspondingly. That’s not happening–at least not enough. Here’s what I observe far too often: A company pitches its wares. Customers squee in excitement at what will absolutely not disappoint in any way whatsoever. Think Cybertruck. Think Humane. I could go on.

Again, this isn’t a slight at Figma. It’s a slight at naive buyers. This naivety does both parties dirty. I saw untethered hype first hand at InVision. The design community was emotionally and irrationally bought in at a level that defied reason. From a company that at no point earned that right. That delusion allowed a few at the top to believe what they made was all they thought it was. It wasn’t.

A skeptical customer is a gift. And we, the customers, are being miserly. This isn’t a call to mob up and blast negative absurdities on social media. It’s to just do the job of a customer. Brush the sales pitch aside. Reserve judgement. And once you have enough information, tell them what you expect for what they’re asking.

I’d say there are two logical conclusions to make from any demo presented at conference like this:

  1. Interest is piqued, but prolonged first-hand experience is needed to make a decision
  2. Not interested, but prolonged first-hand experience is needed to make a decision

Tools are not an impulse purchase. They’re not a candy bar at the checkout lane. Something like Figma is a significant investment of your time and money. Don’t just consume the pitch. Ask questions. Find chinks in the talking points. Constantly ask if what you’re seeing is what’s most valuable to you. Check your emotions, check the vibe, check the atmosphere and remember that you’re being sold.

And respond accordingly.