AI won't replace designers, but designers using AI will
Yes, if we use AI like Tony Stark co-creates with Jarvis. And please, I’m tired of reading the word “replacing.”
🕰️ Est. reading time: 2 minutes
If we simply take whatever AI generates without thinking, it won’t work.
Tony Stark doesn’t just sit back, relax, and let Jarvis do all the work. He’s involved, actively thinking, and making decisions. He’s not just using AI; he’s co-creating with it.
There’s a human in the loop.
That’s why having the right skillsets, broader mindsets, and unique lenses—rather than relying on mere AI—makes all the difference in shaping the outcome.
Design Buddy is a free, reader-supported publication.
Subscribe to get my next post in your inbox, and if you enjoy the content, a small pledge for ☕️ coffee would help me keep creating quality content.
Thank you!
Please excuse the Marvel fanboy in me, but I want to take you deeper into an example with Tony Stark.
In the fictional Marvel Universe, Tony Stark is a billionaire genius behind major technological advancements. He was kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan while demonstrating a new missile for the U.S. military and forced to build a weapon for them. Instead, he secretly built the first prototype Iron Man suit using scrap metal and spare parts.
Later, he took this technology further, developing it with the help of Jarvis, his AI assistant. By co-creating with Jarvis, Tony rapidly perfected the suit, making it more advanced and way cooler in no time.
Even before working with Jarvis, Tony knew exactly what he was doing. Jarvis simply augmented his skillset and knowledge, allowing him to work more effectively and efficiently.
Considering we’re not scientists or engineers, if we were in Tony’s position, would we be as great as him?
I would probably treat Jarvis the same way I treat MidJourney—giving me four different image alternatives to choose from!
✨ A Reflection Invitation
Let’s take a moment to reflect on how we’re using AI these days. Are we just asking it to merely generate content, or have we explored various ways to use AI to help us become better thinkers and better crafters?
Two professors at Wharton, Dr. Ethan Mollick and Dr. Lilach Mollick, conducted research on how AI can be used as a supportive tool rather than a replacement in academic settings.
They outlined seven distinct approaches for students to interact with AI using prompts that go beyond simply generating answers.
Just like designers, there’s vast untapped potential in how we can use the different roles of AI to co-create within the design process.
We could use AI to:
Offer design critiques (You could upload your design, provide some context, and share your thoughts).
Act as your rubber duck, helping you reflect on your thoughts and ideas.
Help you learn complex design concepts or terms, and then provide ideas on how to apply them to your specific context.
And I believe, much more. (If you have any ideas, please share them in the comments below.)
With this in mind, it’s important to remember that these use cases are not meant to replace human co-creation or relationships.
So, will AI replace designers? Will designers using AI replace designers?
Please, I’m tired of hearing the word “replacing.” Of course, we can be better with AI, but that doesn’t mean replacing others.
We need to shift the discourse to focus on what’s beyond just using AI for generating content—toward how it can help us become better thinkers and crafters by co-creating with AI while always keeping humans in the loop.
Your Design Buddy,
Thomas
Reflection Prompts
How are we using AI these days?
In what ways has AI helped you become a better thinker or crafter?
How can we make sure AI complements, rather than replaces, our creativity?
Feel free to take a moment and reflect—I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments if you’re up for sharing.
Did you enjoy this week's Design Buddy?
Show your support by clicking the heart button ❤️ or sharing this with a friend, colleague, or fellow designer!