The Future of Design in an AI-dominated World
Will AI take over creative roles in the software and web development industries? With tools like DALL-E, advanced GPT models, and enhanced visual processing, it seems only a matter of time before the job of the creative is at risk of being taken over by some GPU in the cloud, pushing out massive designs, wireframes, and even prototypes. Even Figma’s latest updates, introducing AI directly into the design workspace, can cause a big “gulp” of suspense for anyone asking these kinds of questions. As lead of the UX/UI Research & Design Team in our company’s tech innovation department, I want to assure you that while AI’s abilities are growing with better accuracy and performance each day, the message remains clear: the future belongs to those who can use the best and newest tools to their advantage.
I firmly believe that instead of AI taking over your job, your job might be taken over by someone who knows how to use AI to become more productive and effective.
Grow as a super-creative with AI tools
Invest the time to grow alongside your tools. The days of “doing things the way they always have been done” are long gone. The best avenues for improving your work as a creative professional are to:
- Familiarise yourself with the abilities and limitations of the technology at hand.
- Experiment with ways to improve your workflow using these new tools like FigJam’s JamBot for ideation and creative meetings, FigmaAI’s new set of design features to help you rename layers, organise workspaces, etc.
- Seek out best practices in your industry. Many people are innovating the way they use AI to assist with creative work. Community has always been a great learning school.
- Learn proper prompt engineering. Though it sounds cliché, learning how to ask the right questions in the right way always helps you get accurate and informative answers.
Use AI to boost your creative work
- Use AI to help generate dummy data, body copy, or relatable mockup fillers.
- Ask AI about alternative ways to achieve specific goals in the user journey, such as laying out user tip pop-ups or allowing a user to create a new entry in a document filing system. A good place to start could be starting up a conversation with generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
- Use AI to iterate during the ideation phase of your design planning. FigJam’s JamBot works excellently for planning out projects, features and ideation sessions.
Pitfalls when thinking about AI tools
There are many ways in which AI can enhance your work and improve your productivity, but if you are not careful, you can also harm your career or limit your growth as a creative professional. Here are signs to look out for:
- Are you actively avoiding AI topics and integrations without considering the pros and cons of using new technology?
- Do you think using tools like AI makes you less valuable or knowledgeable?
- Are you worried that AI might take over your job as a creative professional?
If so, I hope to assure you that AI cannot take over your job as a creative professional. By using it wisely, you will only enhance your value to your employer.
I urge you to go out and try tools like generative AI, Figma‘s AI integrations and see how it can elevate your work and improve your productivity.
This is the age of forward thinkers, boundary pushers, and egg breakers.
Go break some eggs and change the world.