Moving Beyond "Move Fast and Break Things"

Avery Erwin

Avery Erwin

The early tech era was defined by Facebook’s famous mantra: “Move fast and break things.” Today, with LLMs and AI code editors like Cursor, designers and developers can build faster than ever before. But our industry has evolved—now we’re asked to build trust and design with long-term impact in mind, especially for financial applications and sensitive data.

This lesson explores how designers are shifting from breakneck velocity to sustainable growth while maintaining the spirit of rapid iteration. You’ll learn to design systems, products, and experiences that prioritize resilience without sacrificing user needs.

  1. Mark Zuckerberg’s Original Letter to Investors

    Before deconstructing the “move fast” mindset, it’s worth examining the source. In this 2012 IPO letter, Zuckerberg outlines Facebook’s “hacker way” philosophy that shaped Silicon Valley’s approach to product development.

    Identify one value from the letter that still resonates with your design practice and one that feels outdated in today’s landscape.

  2. Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Is Outdated Advice

    Jam.dev CEO Dani Grant explains why this decade-old advice has evolved and how slowing down to fix things can actually be the key to finding product-market fit.

    Identify one area in your current design process where intentionally slowing down could improve quality or user experience.

  3. Leaders Can Move Fast and Fix Things

    This HBR piece draws from global digital infrastructure examples to demonstrate how speed and responsibility can coexist when systems are designed with public value, adaptability, and long-term trust.

    Sketch a simple change to your current product that would signal greater care, reliability, or clarity to your users.

  4. Google PAIR: The People + AI Guidebook

    As AI products evolve rapidly, this practical guidebook from Google’s People + AI Research team offers thoughtful approaches to designing human-centered AI systems, covering data transparency, mental models, and building trust.

    Review one section relevant to your work and note a principle to implement in your next product sprint.

  5. The Slow Media Manifesto

    For a philosophical perspective, this manifesto responds to fast, disposable content by advocating for more thoughtful, intentional approaches to digital creation.

    Choose one principle that resonates with you and consider how to incorporate it into your next design feature.