Dear junior designer, here’s how to leverage AI and quit being scared of the future
Rapid prototyping, instant UX copy, and more recently Figma AI whipping up high-fidelity screens on the fly. You’re just starting out and this is scary. Is it all worth it? Does your design career really have a future?
Let’s figure it out together.
I Hereby Pronounce You, Design and AI
So, Design and AI, the marriage that keeps on giving. The sweep of AI into design hit the industry like a tidal wave, and it’s unsurprisingly raised concerns right up until this moment. And, well, that’s also because there just seems to be more and more ways AI could be incorporated into the design process. (I mean, check out Figma’s #ConFig2024 updates to get a whiff if you still haven’t.)
But does all of this really mean you need to be afraid?
The short answer is no. Now, for the fun part, here’s why.
Feed Your Focus, Not Your Fear
Most times we fear what we don’t understand. And the same is true in this case. The first step to getting pushed out of your job by machines is to seriously believe that machines, actually trained by humans, are more skilled than you are/could be.
The truth is Artificial Intelligence in design is really more about augmenting the design process as opposed to “taking over” it.
Robots/machines are not creating solutions to problems or providing input during stakeholder meetings (not on their own at least). Toptal breaks down deconstructing the AI buzz when it comes to design in their article by Miklos Philips here.
Think of this intervention, like many other interventions, as a means to an end. For now at least, what “AI in design” means is speeding up the processes that usually involve less human thinking/input and strategy, such as wireframing, prototyping, content generation (for images and copy), etc. And if this is already sounding like your entire job, slow down and take a breath.
You still have to vet everything, all the tasks, that AI is helping you do.
Because robots don’t think, they’re trained. You are the human with the brain (that you’re expected to use).
You may already have heard how job applicants are getting rejected because their resumes, cover letters, portfolios, etc. are full of AI generated content, or are even just suspected of being full of it.
And that’s because using AI as a “fast-track to success” when it comes to the human-part of your job is cheap. It shows that you don’t bother to think, don’t bother to research, or it simply depicts a lack of skill on your part in general.
So thinking of AI as an aid as opposed to an enemy is the first step to moving forward. You’ll still need to prove your competence as a designer, and robots or machines are not going to do that for you. As a matter of fact, they’ll only help to sift the wheat from the weeds.
So figure out if you’re a designer focused on what design really is all about, or if you’re simply the designer caught up in tools and trends.
(Pro tip: Only one out of the two groups really survives the battlefield.)
Three Tips to Help You Stay Ahead of the Curve
Like we’ve discussed, design is never going to just disappear, irrespective of AI and Machine Learning advancements. So here are three tips to help you shed the dread and gain confidence.
1. Get informed
If your approach to "beating AI" is still to pretend like it doesn’t exist, then I apologize. You most likely will get overlooked as design continues to evolve. A huge part of design is already to stay updated on industry trends and practices. AI is no different. It’s simply you getting to understand another approach to getting the job done. So rather than fear change, why not embrace it? When you shift your mindset from being defensive, you just might realize that this is nothing but another opportunity to grow in your career.
2. Look for ways to incorporate AI into your process
Like I stated earlier, the more you get to know AI (with regards to design), the more you’ll realize that it’s more of an efficient collaborator/assistant than anything else. You save time doing a lot of things "from scratch" and get to focus more on the good stuff, like UX/product strategy, idea/design refinement, brainstorming disruptive solutions, and overall creativity. You know, the things that actually make your job worth doing.
‘Tis the age to work smarter, not harder, after all.
3. Focus on being a great designer
Being a great designer means you understand and are well prepared for how dynamic the field you’ve chosen is. In Frank Chimero’s words, “design moves.” And it always has. Solving problems and creating useful interventions in people’s lives will never go out of style. Only the nature of our work, so the strategies and methods we use to achieve those goals, evolve with the rise of new technologies and advancements in society.
In Summary
So, what will it be for you? It’s perfectly fine if you’ve decided design isn’t your poison and are looking elsewhere. But if you really want to do this, if you really possess the passion, skill, and most importantly the desire to grow in your career? Then I believe AI should not be your reason to run for the hills.
Because when it comes to design, AI will only really "compete" with the mediocre, not the great.
Still, if there’s one thing you will always need to be prepared for moving forward, it’s definitely change.
Wishing you the best on your journey, and see you in the next one!
x Jess.
