Design and AI

I see AI not as a replacement for designers, but as an evolving tool that expands our ability to solve problems. Used thoughtfully, it accelerates exploration and helps teams surface possibilities faster, so that we can spend more time applying our judgment and empathy where it matters most.

AI has shifted how I think about design practice. It's a tool for rapid ideation, synthesizing research, gathering competitive analysis, and pressure-testing ideas. Its real value isn't speed alone, but the way it helps designers move beyond their assumptions and engage more deeply with complexity.

As a design leader, I believe integrating AI well requires more than tools. It requires experimentation, adaptability, and a continued commitment to human-centered design.

1

Experiment

I believe firsthand experience is essential to understanding what AI can and can't do. I encourage my teams to experiment directly so that their understanding is grounded in reality rather than speculation.

I've taken this approach before. Years ago, while working in news, I joined Twitter so I could internalize how it worked and not rely on the critical opinions of other people, some of whom hadn't used it. Experiencing the 140-character constraint firsthand and engaging in real-time conversations changed how I understood the platform and its potential. That same instinct guides how I approach AI today: learn by doing.

2

Have an adaptive mindset

AI is not the first major shift design has faced, and it won't be the last. Staying relevant requires flexibility and a willingness to evolve.

I began my career in print design. As the industry shifted to digital, I expanded my skills into video, motion graphics, and eventually UX design. Each transition required letting go of familiar workflows and embracing uncertainty. That adaptability now shapes how I think about AI, not as a fixed solution, but as something that will continue to change how people interact with systems, products, and services.

Because we as designers understand systems, context, behavior, and intent, we are uniquely positioned to shape the industry's evolution. We can influence how AI is integrated in ways that serve real human needs.

3

Stay human-centered

Much of the conversation around AI focuses on automation and efficiency. While those benefits matter, my priority has been balancing business goals with what is best for people.

AI should help us rethink experiences, not flatten them. That means staying grounded in empathy, maintaining strong design instincts, and making responsible, ethical decisions. It also means continuing to tell stories rooted in real customer voices, needs, and data and using AI to support that work, not replace it.

For me, AI is most powerful when it strengthens what designers already do best: making sense of complexity, imagining better futures, and designing with intention.