Goodbye, Product Triad. Hello, Builders.
An important shift is happening in how tech gets built
For decades, product teams were neatly divided into three roles: Product Manager, Designer, and Engineer. It worked pretty well. PMs understood users, Designers shaped interfaces, and Engineers built the tech. Each had clear, separate tasks.
But something’s changing. Clearly defined roles are fading away. The future belongs to Builders—people who blend PM, Designer, and Engineer skills seamlessly. Builders don’t just complete tasks; they invent, prototype, code, and iterate constantly.
Think about it like a band. In a great band, like the Beatles, members aren’t strictly limited by roles. Paul, John, George, and Ringo didn’t just play their instruments—they wrote, produced, and experimented together. Everyone pitched in creatively, beyond their assigned part.
Why the Change?
Designers once spent days perfecting static mockups. Now tools like Cursor allow instant prototyping. It’s less like careful drafting, more like sketching ideas in real-time.
Engineers were valued mainly for technical expertise. But AI like Claude 4 Opus makes raw coding skill less critical. Now engineers must deeply understand users and the product vision. Coding becomes the means, not the goal itself. There will be a place for hardcore engineers but we will likely need a very small number of them compared to the Builders.
Product Managers traditionally coordinated tasks and user needs. But intelligent coding agents and new tools mean PMs must become active builders, deeply involved in prototyping and shaping products directly.
History and the Rise of Builders
Great creators historically were rarely defined by one skill. Leonardo da Vinci wasn’t just an artist or scientist; he was both at once. Edison, Jobs — they all moved fluidly across roles. Innovation comes from combining multiple perspectives.
Music offers a clear analogy. Prince wasn’t just a singer or guitarist; he mastered songwriting, multiple instruments, and production. His breadth of skills enabled enormous creativity. Product builders today need similar versatility.
The Studio Era of Product Development
The future looks more like a music studio than corporate cubicles. Instead of rigid departments, product teams will be fluid groups of “musicians,” iterating and refining ideas continuously. It’s collaborative, creative, and directly responsive to users.
Some predict everyone will build their own software, but this seems unlikely. Most users want tools thoughtfully crafted by dedicated, creative teams. Not everyone wants to make their own music—they just want to enjoy the album.