I think we’re already seeing a generation of designers who don’t really know how to design from scratch. They’re comfortable working with design systems, using existing components and putting together interfaces, but struggle when asked to create something from the ground up.
And with AI becoming part of almost every design workflow, I think this is only going to get worse.
I remember a time when designers would sketch, illustrate, experiment with typography, play with vectors and bring things together to create something. We spent time doing research, speaking to customers, observing behaviour, running feedback sessions and figuring out what to build and why. We understood how to create a visual language, build a brand and make things feel different.
Of course, not every designer did all of this, and I’m not suggesting that things were necessarily better back then.
Design systems have made our lives easier, and AI is going to make us even more efficient. That’s a good thing. But I think somewhere along the way, we’ve started confusing the ability to put things together with the ability to design them.
There’s a difference between knowing how to use a design system and knowing how to build one. Between choosing from existing patterns and understanding why those patterns exist in the first place.
And that’s what worries me about AI. Not that it will take away design jobs, but that we’ll become so dependent on these tools that we gradually lose the curiosity, judgement and craft required to create something original.
If we don’t want to end up in a world full of AI slop, we need more designers who can think beyond existing patterns, question things and build from scratch.
The tools are getting better at making things. We need to get better at deciding what should be made and why.
I think we’re already seeing a generation of designers who don’t really know how to design from scratch.
I think we’re already seeing a generation of designers who don’t really know how to design from scratch.