Research at the top of the curve
Doing research used to mean: going through reports, collecting data, summarizing everything. Nowadays, I'm taking the same steps all at once with AI. I give the tools all the info I have and ask: “What are the patterns? Where are the opportunities?”
That is very fast, but there is a catch. AI can hallucinate. That's why I always check the sources and explain my findings openly to the customer. I literally say: “AI gave me this insight. is that consistent with your experience?”
And that works. Customers feel taken seriously and actively participate in validation.
From idea to prototype in one step
The biggest game changer? Prototyping. Where I used to go from sketch to mockup to prototype, I now use AI tools that directly generate a working prototype from a text description.
The result: ideation and prototyping merge.
- I can test many more options in the same amount of time.
- Customers immediately see what an idea does, not just how it looks.
- Feedback becomes more concrete: “That button has to be there.”
Contrary to what many people think, AI doesn't limit my creativity. On the contrary: because I can iterate faster, I actually try out wild ideas more often.
Better collaboration with customers and developers
Because there is already a prototype in a workshop, we no longer talk in abstractions. Customers click directly through the interface. That makes conversations sharper and more fun.
Collaboration with developers has also changed. Because AI tools generate code, I understand the technical limits more quickly. The output does not go 1-on-1 into production, but the gap between design and development has narrowed.
AI is not a panacea
However, AI is not blissful. Want to follow style guides and design systems? That remains difficult. For fine tuning and details, I'm still going back to Figma. AI is particularly strong in initial exploration, less so in perfecting.
Each designer chooses their own mix. One stays with pen and paper, the other dives straight into the tools. AI is not a replacement, but a powerful addition.
From pixel pusher to director
What surprised me most is how my role is changing. I'm less concerned with scrolling pixels and more with the strategy behind it. I'm thinking about:
- What questions do I ask the AI?
- What context and examples do I provide?
- How do I ensure that the output matches our goal?
That does not make AI a threat to me, but a kind of turbo. A tool that frees me up for the work that really matters: giving direction and making the right choices.
Or as I experience it myself: AI gives me superpowers as a designer, as long as I remain the director.
Want to know more about how AI is changing designers' work?
At Blis Digital, we combine creativity with AI power: from faster validation to smarter prototyping. Without losing human insight.
Read here how we approach that.
