The Duolingo method: Collaboration as a core practice

Duolingo's Math team abandons traditional design handoffs in favor of collaborative co-creation. The team uses shared ideation sessions, rapid prototyping cycles, and constant feedback loops between designers and engineers. They prioritize building working prototypes quickly over perfecting designs upfront, following a 'show don't tell' philosophy. The approach emphasizes shipping v1 products that meet quality standards while planning for iterative improvements, supported by shared language, aligned incentives, and trust-building through meaningful contributions.