UX Design by AI: The Fast-Food of the Future

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In recent months, designers have observed significant changes in the industry. On one hand, the recession is impacting many companies' budgets, leading to rounds of layoffs. On the other hand, promising technological advancements, such as AI and spatial computing, are going to boost the industry. With tools that utilize artificial intelligence, the market is evolving and will continue to disrupt even more in the near future.

A common question I often hear is: Can AI replace designers? Let's demystify this concern.

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"AI Won’t Replace You..." Are You Sure About That?

We've all heard the saying, "AI won't replace you, but a designer using AI will." Indeed, this may be true, especially in the initial phase of adopting AI for design work.

The next step for AI involves eliminating the need for a designer (and developer) by generating working solutions based on the user's described intention. This is most likely to happen for all kinds of simple solutions, such as landing pages, company websites, or small apps.

We're already seeing the first steps in this direction. If you want to experience it, try using Relume AI and Framer AI. For now, these tools produce just wireframes or simple schematic websites, and they still require a designer or no-code engineer to go live. But for how long?

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Tools of Tomorrow

If you've been tracking news about AI tools, you may have noticed the direction I mentioned. Beyond Relume and Framer, I really admire the teams behind UIzard and Galileo, whose mission is to kickstart the UI design process with generative AI that produces usable interfaces based on prompts.

When combined with no-code solutions, it becomes clear that we are very close to taking the next step. AI will eliminate the need for designers for simple and low-budget solutions.

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AI is the Fast Food of the Future

Why do I recommend thinking of AI as fast food? Here's the explanation: When you're in a hurry, this kind of meal is a simple and efficient solution, but it's not necessarily healthy. Now, recall a time when you wanted to experience something delicious — what did you do? I'm pretty confident you went to a restaurant and ordered a meal specially prepared for you by the chef.

A similar phenomenon will occur in the design industry. Those who desire exceptional quality and results will invest in human-made solutions. People in need of a simple website or app will turn to AI tools to generate something "good enough." Imagine a photographer who wants a simple portfolio and the ability to schedule sessions. A few lines of description, and the site will be generated within seconds.

This leads to a straightforward conclusion: the demand for designers and web developers will be reduced, but not every professional will be affected...

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How to Adapt to the New Times?

If your business is based on the types of gigs mentioned above, you need to prepare to focus on areas that will remain the domain of human-made design.

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“The demand for designers and web developers will be reduced.”

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What are those skills? Remember the restaurant analogy? Seek out similar examples. It's easy for AI to create generic interfaces for schematic problems, but more advanced challenges will remain the domain of humans for much longer.

Companies seeking solutions tailored to specific metrics and goals, which require strategic design decisions and long-term planning, will need designers.

Another case, top-notch experts won't be satisfied with a generic template showcasing their knowledge, achievements, or works. These professionals will seek creative designers to build custom portfolios for them, this will be the premium market.

To assist these companies and clients, we need to excel in:

• ✅ Empathy with users
• ✅ Strategic thinking
• ✅ Creativity

These skills will win over autonomous AI generators, but... this doesn't mean a designer using AI tools won't surpass you. Even today, AI tools can enhance your work around research and other design phases, saving a considerable amount of time (I plan to show you how to do this soon).

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Want to Learn About AI & Design?

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Thank you for reading!

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