4 Predictions on How AI Will Shape the Way We Design Forever
For over 15 years, Design has been the cornerstone of my professional journey. I have journeyed through the ever-evolving landscape of design, witnessing its transformation and adapting to its changing demands. Despite the advent of more powerful tools and technologies, the core approach to design has remained remarkably consistent.
However, the recent development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has opened the floodgates for developers and some of the brightest minds in the industry, bringing tools that we can only dream about just a couple of years ago onto our hands. This has begun to hint at a significant shift.
This change, subtle yet profound, suggests we are on the cusp of a new era in design, one that promises to reshape our methodologies and creative processes in ways we’ve only begun to imagine.
Here are four predictions of what Design could look like in the near future:
Disclaimer: This article focuses exclusively on the high-level concepts of AI’s impact on design. It does not delve into specific AI tools or offer recommendations.
1. Predictive UX
With a robust database of user test data, AI has the potential to predict the effectiveness of layouts and user flows in real-time. Imagine a world where, as a designer crafts a user interface, they receive a live predictive score from AI. This score, updated in real-time, reflects the likelihood of the design’s success down to individual elements, guiding designers with data-driven insights.
This system provides an immediate understanding of user preferences and behaviors, significantly reducing guesswork and enhancing decision-making efficiency.
In its ultimate form, an AI steeped in the wisdom of millions of user interactions across countless apps will relegate ‘A/B testing’ and ‘User testing’ to history. Future designers might stumble upon these ancient terms in old design textbooks, chuckling at the quaint practices of yesteryear, much like we smirk at the thought of using a fax machine today.
2. Client Helper (Feedback GPT + Live Preview)
Turn “can you make it pop a little more?” to “increase logo size by 15%”.
Ask any seasoned designer, and they’ll tell you that great design is a 50–50 partnership between the designer and the client. Clear directions from the client are as crucial as the designer’s skill and creativity.
Enter AI: trained on years of client feedback and corresponding successful design adjustments, it’s poised to translate vague concerns into clear, actionable tasks. Say goodbye to the days of deciphering cryptic feedback!
This innovation isn’t just a win for designers. Clients, too, can give their input and watch as AI offers live design adjustments and alternatives, cutting down the endless back-and-forth. Designers can then fine-tune these AI-generated suggestions to perfection within a shorter amount of time.
The only casualty? Our arsenal of ‘Designer vs. Client’ battle stories at the bar after work might just become a thing of the past.
3. Live Wireframing
Picture this: you’re in a meeting with your product team, brainstorming a new feature. Instead of the usual ‘I’ll get back to you with drafts tomorrow and we can set another meeting again to go through it’, an advanced AI tool instantly generates a base wireframe right there and then, complete with editable elements.
This live, on-the-spot wireframe creation could revolutionize the way designers, engineers, and product managers collaborate. The conversation evolves, and so does the visual representation of your ideas — in real-time. Just imagine the time saved and the productivity boost gained when ideas can take shape as quickly as they’re being discussed! (Yes, AI can hear us and typing is so 2000.)
4. Context Aware Layout (Text-to-Layout)
As of the time of writing, I’ve experimented with a multitude of tools claiming to be ‘AI-powered’ for UI, website, and graphic design. Surprisingly, none have demonstrated a fundamental grasp of the principles of design that are more technical and seemingly well-suited for AI comprehension.
Looking ahead, imagine tools that are not only trained in the principles of design but also offer a diverse palette of styles and trends, similar to generative images for those in the know. In the near future, the manual crafting of typography, layouts, and visual hierarchies could become relics of the design process.
Closing Thoughts
AI’s rapid evolution is an undeniable force in today’s technological landscape, progressing at a lightning pace. Its impact is widespread and profound, and it’s clear that AI is not just a fleeting trend, but a fundamental shift that is here to stay. As designers, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment where embracing this change isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity to stay relevant and innovative in our field.
While I firmly believe that the advancement of AI won’t render human designers obsolete, there’s a pressing need for us to adapt and evolve with this technology. Those who remain static, clinging to old methodologies, risk falling behind, much like how phonebooks became relics in the age of the internet.
This isn’t a phenomenon unique to AI; it’s a pattern repeated throughout history with every disruptive technology.
As designers, our role isn’t to compete with AI, but to harness its potential and redefine our value in a world where human creativity and machine intelligence coexist and complement each other.
Extras
If you like this article, check out more UI/UX or AI-related articles by myself and my colleagues from Mighty Bear Games:
