Vibe code

I believe people develop IQ and EQ at different paces, depending on the season of their life. From what I’ve observed, designers with high IQ—meaning strong craft, skill, and taste—often develop EQ, the ability to work well with others, more slowly.

I once attended a series of hand-lettering workshops with master craftsmen and craftswomen. Their lines carried incredible creativity, sharpness, and precision—their letters looked as if they’d been printed by a machine. But spending time with them, you could sense their ego. It wasn’t surprising: their mastery was forged in solitude, built on countless hours of practice, with little need for collaboration.

In today’s world of software design, things are different. Designers, engineers, and PMs rely on one another. Collaboration is the medium as much as the code or the pixels. What’s fascinating is how vibe-code might shift this dynamic—making it easier for individuals to create independently, almost like the hand-lettering artists I once met.

Still, I believe IQ has its limits. You can keep sharpening your skills, but eventually the curve flattens. EQ, however, has no ceiling. Becoming someone others want to work with opens endless possibilities. Vibe-code may raise the baseline of IQ for everyone, but those who understand that humans are wired to depend on each other will continue to stand out.