"What I'm really against is the notion that you can't do design without AI so you either learn AI or you're doomed. Using AI is of course useful for designers. But so is knowing how to use Figma and I put both of those in the same bucket of tactical skills. Can you work as a designer without being proficient in Figma? Absolutely."
"In fact, some of the best designers I know rarely even touch Figma. Yet they deliver several times their salary in value for the companies they work for. How come? The same goes for AI. Now, AI tools cover a spectrum of functions (as does Figma) so, if we are to do a fair assessment of its relevance, we need to break it down into categories."
Mandatory AI proficiency is not required for effective design work. AI and Figma function as tactical tools that can enhance productivity but do not define a designer's core capability. Some high-performing designers rarely use Figma yet deliver outsized value to their employers. AI tools vary widely in function and should be assessed by category rather than assumed essential. By late 2025, many AI tools operate as summarizers or as vibe-coding assistants. Vibe-generated code should not be deployed to production, and each AI capability must be evaluated against practical design needs.
Read at Medium
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]