Why perfect AI code looks amateur
prompt engineering trap
Here's the thing:
Most vibe coders are building backwards. Let me explain...
The Sales Engineer Days
Back in 2017, I worked as a sales engineer at a tech company.
I wasn't quite a software engineer. I wasn't quite in sales either. I straddled this weird line between selling customers and deploying technical solutions.
(basically the company's Swiss Army knife lol) But here's what blew my mind:
I'd get pulled into these demo sessions for new features while they were mid-development.
They would sit some of us down and show us rough ideas for the app.
Then they'd ask:
- "Where would you click if you were trying to do X?"
- "Why do you think that button is there?"
- "What are you expecting to happen next?"
Sometimes these sessions went on for HOURS.
So much time and effort went into understanding what a user is trying to accomplish…
And how the UX/UI helps them get there. Here's what I learned:
Think Like a Product Designer
Modern day vibe coders need to spend more time trying to be like a Product Designer.
Now, I know what you're thinking... "But I just want AI to build me something cool!" Here's the problem:
Most vibe coders are obsessed with getting AI to build something that technically works.
The difference between an AI project that screams "amateur" and one that looks professionally built isn't the code underneath. It's whether someone thought like a Product Designer BEFORE they started prompting.
Think about it like this:
You can have Gordon Ramsay cook you a meal, but if you don't tell him what you're hungry for or who you're feeding...
You might end up with beef wellington when you needed mac and cheese.
When you approach your AI builds with a user-first mindset instead of a "what can I get AI to do" mindset...
Your projects instantly gain credibility. Your UIs stop looking like obvious AI builds. They start looking like intentional, professional products. This is the secret to gaining the social capital and "tech founder" credibility that vibe coders are really after.
IF you want to learn exactly how to do this... THEN you'll want to watch my free YouTube video where I break down the 5 secret tips to building UIs that don't look like an AI built them.
You can check it out here: youtube.com/watch?v=0rqjKKc8weI
Talk soon, Sean