After more than twenty years in UX design, I’ve seen my share of “game-changing” technologies come and go. Responsive design. The rise of mobile-first. Design systems. Each one shifted the landscape in its own way. But nothing has altered the pace, the possibilities, and the very shape of our work quite like artificial intelligence. We’re in the midst of a tectonic shift — and instead of fearing it, I’m leaning in.
AI has already become part of my toolkit, not as a replacement for design thinking, but as a powerful amplifier of it. I’ve used it to craft content that resonates, to speed up tedious workflows, to visualize concepts in storyboards before I’ve committed a pixel, and to bring clarity to messy, complex data. Whether it’s Figma’s AI features helping me iterate at lightning speed, Microsoft Copilot organizing my thoughts, or Adobe Firefly generating visual inspiration, these tools have freed up more time for what matters most: solving human problems creatively.
The temptation, of course, is to let AI do all the heavy lifting. But good design isn’t about speed alone; it’s about intent.
The most valuable use of AI I’ve found is as a thought partner — something to challenge my assumptions, spark new ideas, and help me approach problems from fresh angles.
It’s not the engine that drives the car; it’s the turbo boost that helps me go further, faster, when I already know where I’m heading.
What excites me most is how AI is lowering the barriers between idea and execution. With tools like Midjourney and Leonardo, I can translate abstract visions into tangible visuals in minutes. Design-to-code platforms are making prototypes instantly functional. That means we can spend less time wrestling with production bottlenecks and more time refining experiences, testing with users, and iterating based on real feedback.
The role of the UX designer isn’t disappearing — it’s evolving. We’re becoming orchestrators of possibility, using AI not as a crutch, but as a creative collaborator. In the same way that Photoshop didn’t replace photographers and CAD didn’t erase architects, AI won’t erase UX designers. It will challenge us to sharpen our vision, deepen our empathy, and design with greater imagination than ever before. And honestly? I can’t wait to see what we’ll make next.