[breckenedge]

I agree that design+engineering is the optimal team structure.

For some reason, I’ve found lately that designers don’t want to work with engineers. This happens regardless of whether or not the engineer and designer work in the same office. Because of this, designers come up with prototypes that are more expensive to implement than what is required to meet the customer’s needs. So at some point, engineers have to have awkward conversations with designers about trimming scope.

This seems to me why we have PMs: engineers naturally avoid the awkward conversations, build half-fancy things because they have a budget to meet and “it wasn’t in the design,” and no one is happy with the final product.

I feel like there is still a better way out there, and I think it involves engineering and design both breaking out of their shells, and that’s where a PM can really help.