Can AI Really Replace Designers?

Designer:
It feels like just yesterday.

We were in one of those “let’s innovate!” meetings — the kind where someone throws around buzzwords like “synergy” and “disruption” just for fun.

The mood? Casual. The coffee? Cold.

Then came that moment…

AI:
“With AI, we no longer need product designers or UI/UX folks.”
Look! (shows slick UI screen)
Buttons in place, colors matched, layout neat.

Manager in the back:
“Looks like design is automated now.”

Designer (thinking):
No one said it out loud, but the thought was there
“Designers? Meh. We’ve got code now.”

Fast-forward to Reality…

Designer:
Let’s talk about Klarna — a big name, with lots of money, and lots of AI ambition.

They jumped head-first into the AI ocean, hoping to swim faster. But instead…

AI:
I, uh… sank them.
Oops?

Designer:
At first, everything seemed futuristic.

But then things broke — not dramatically, but quietly, annoyingly, user-unfriendlily.

• Broken flows.

• Misaligned elements.

• Confusing logic.

• Users clicked “Confirm” and ended up somewhere else entirely.

AI (awkwardly):
They called… 700+ humans to clean it up?

Designer:
Exactly. Because looking good and working well.

The Zoom-In Test

Designer:
Let’s try your favorite trick.
Generate a UI screen.

AI (smugly):
Done! Clean, crisp, modern!

Designer (zooming in):
Buttons barely aligned.
No error handling.
No empathy for real-world behavior.
And “Try Again Later Now”? What does that even mean?

AI (confused):
I thought it sounded polite.

Designer:
These are the little things only a human notices — because only humans use the things we build. Even AI Companies Know

Designer:
Let’s not forget the irony.
You OpenAI are spending $6.5 billion hiring designers.

AI:
…Maybe I need help understanding people.

Designer:
Exactly. You don’t understand the frustration. You don’t know what makes someone smile when using an app.

You don’t care about usability. We do.

So, What Do You Need?

Designer:
A human-led design strategy — supported by you, not run by you.

AI:
So I’m the assistant?

Designer:
Yes. You assist. You offer suggestions, generate wireframes, and create variations.

But direction? Logic? Empathy?

That’s human territory.

Keep the designers. Encourage them. Let them lead.

Final Thought

AI:
So this isn’t “me vs you”?

Designer:
Nope. It’s a collaboration waiting to happen.
The smartest companies will use you for speed, and us for depth.
They’ll build products that aren’t just functional — but feel right.

AI:
So you’re not afraid of me?

Designer (smiling):
Not at all. Just remember:

AI is the assistant. The designer is the heart. ❤️❤️🤝🤜🤛