Designers + AI, what's next?

How many times have you heard someone ask the question, will AI take over our jobs as designers? Maybe you have thought about it yourself. I know I have!

We are entering a new phase of design, and it can be somewhat daunting to some, but also a chance to reframe our mindset and accept a new, challenging, and exciting era if you are into technology and refuse to see it as a threat.

I've been listening to a few webinars and podcasts about AI recently and how we can use it to our advantage in the design world.

My biggest takeaway from it was: We are all starting from a level ground and learning this new way of working together. No one has it figured out yet! So if it scares you a little—don't let it. Embrace it and start adapting it to your everyday tasks.

How can we embrace AI in our day to day?

AI isn't ready to replace design, but we can use it to our advantage to refine our ideation processes, speed up repetitive tasks and create more time for human creativity.

How I see AI powered tools being used in the design industry day-to-day:

1. Smarter Insights and strategy

Improving how we make design decisions. Designers now have access to real-time data, behavioural trends, and predictive insights that can inform everything from layout choices to content placement.

Examples:

AI heatmaps like Hotjar or Crazy Egg predict where users will click or stall — helping designers optimise user flows before a page goes live. Some of these tools have been around for many years but with now have ultra enhance features

2. Streamlining the Repetitive Stuff

This is my favourite! Repetitive design tasks can take days to complete for example, re-sizing hundreds of assets, creating mockup variations — all of which can eat up time and creative energy. AI tools automate these low-value tasks so you can focus on creativity and design thinking.

Examples:

Figma tools, Canva’s Magic Resize, Creatopy, banner flow or Mid Journey let you auto-adapt designs for different scales, generate variations or mock up ideas at speed

The advantages of these tools still need designers to manage and create and that's what makes our job more streamline and saves a ton of time ( allowing us to leverage making more money!)

3. Designing at Scale

If you’re working with brands or e-commerce platforms that need 100s of visuals — from product pages to social ads — AI helps maintain consistency and speed across assets without compromising quality.

Examples:

Generate ad variations, dynamic product mockups, or template-based UI elements using AI-enhanced systems.

4. Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusion

AI can support designers in creating more inclusive and accessible experiences. It can flag contrast issues, suggest accessible colour palettes, and even generate alt descriptions to support screen readers.

Examples:

Adobe Sensei and Stark plug-ins help assess WCAG compliance and recommend inclusive design adjustments.

5. Co-Creation and Concept Development

Whether you’re stuck on a layout or need headline inspiration, AI can act as a creative sparring partner. It can’t replace your vision, but it can accelerate brainstorming and help you test ideas faster.

Examples:

Use ChatGPT, Claude Sonnet to generate content tone options, UX copy, or storyboard ideas — then refine them with your human touch.

6. Prototyping and User Testing

AI-powered UX tools are revolutionising how we test and iterate. You can simulate user flows, predict pain points, and even run automated A/B tests — all before writing a line of code.

Examples:

Tools like Maze or Uizard use AI to turn wireframes into testable prototypes and gather early-stage feedback.

The Future Is Collaborative

If we as designers embrace AI as a collaborator we can excel in our field. Our creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking are irreplaceable. But paired with AI, our worklife can be made more stream-line stress free and maybe even richer!

You get to:

• Make more informed decisions

• Mock up and publish faster

• Focus on what matters — the why behind the our designs

• Reduce repetition

Final Thought

As we enter a new era of design, the most powerful creatives will be those who know how to combine both intuition and AI. Lets keep learning and sharing how we can improve our design knowledge and navigate this new age together.

Check out the Attention Please! Workbook series

In my digital design workbooks I explore how to integrate AI tools into your content planning, digital design, and through brand-building strategies. Perfect for designers who are ready to work smarter, not harder!

Attention Please! Pt 1 Mapping the Customer Journey

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Attention Please! Pt 2 Content Planning

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Get in touch

I offer freelance, mentoring and design services. Let's chat hello@jadefearondesign.com