Where does design fit in your startup journey?

I understand design can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

• Branding: Marketing your startup, social media, logo, etc.
• Visual Design for your product i.e. making it pretty and professional
• UX Design and Strategy: Feature prioritization, PMF, user research, growth, etc.

I want to understand what type of design indie hackers and startup founders consider and at what stage in their journey those things become a concern.

I'm a Product and UX Designer trying to figure out the ideal audience and how I can provide the maximum value. Budget is a big thing as well. Will people be more interested in a day or a month rate or a per-sprint rate?

Currently working with two early-stage startups on a per-sprint basis. More about my work: https://www.mdnabilahsan.com/