Using AI to design better experiences: Why we need UXers now more than ever

Most of us believe that AI will be another tool we wield, and not one that will eliminate our roles. Regardless, it will change how we do business – for the good and bad. On the good side, it can refine ideas and bring them to life in new ways. On the bad, design gets commoditized and can fall into the ‘everything looks the same’ category.

Like many, I have had my dalliances with AI platforms, and I find myself creasing when AI helps me to create something that was once a figment of our overactive imaginations, from imagined Wendy Williams monologs (it even calls for Suzanne as the real talk show host does!) to the voguing robots featured in Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour.

At its core, AI serves as the answer to drawing inspiration from visual references such as photographs, to create compelling and innovative works. But it can’t replace the real thing. This realization is particularly pertinent when applied to generative AI, emphasizing the importance of knowing that people created it for people.

AI & UX, etc

Being a UX designer demands more than just a skill set; it requires a growth mindset and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning, adaptability and embracing new knowledge and techniques.

The role of a UXer in brand experience is to create a user journey that seamlessly merges physical and digital realms. This fusion comes to life in a design process that encompasses interactions, journey mapping, and persona building, all fueled by the empathetic understanding of users’ wants and needs. This combination of provocation and grounding is what sets great UX designers apart.

Will AI make UXers redundant? The answer hinges on the type of designer and their skillset. While automation may excel in performing specific tasks carried out by humans, it cannot replicate the essential skills that a skilled designer possesses. These skills revolve around creating the best human outcome when interacting with a brand, fostering emotional connections with audiences, enticing them to spend more time experiencing a brand and encouraging them to act afterward.

The UX community can use AI to this end, making the work better and avoiding design monotony. Here’s how.

1. Supercharge ideas

Generative AI assists UXers in identifying layouts and refining the UI of wireframes. By leveraging an abundance of existing information, AI aids in identifying previously overlooked key characteristics, leading to more innovative and comprehensive designs.

2. Adaptive sprints

While traditional sprints offer a structured approach to problem-solving and prototyping, AI-driven adaptive design sprints can expedite the process by offering prompt-based guidelines. UXers can efficiently kick-start projects, facilitating quick iterations and experimentation.

3. Overcome blind spots

Acknowledging that biases can manifest in AI outputs, UXers can employ AI to test out approaches and perspectives, especially those less familiar to us. This approach can lead to more inclusive and unbiased design outcomes.

Fostering inclusivity, diversity, and ongoing self-reflection in the design process is crucial to creating AI systems that cater to a broader range of users.

4. Referenced imagination

As creatives, we often encounter challenges in articulating our imaginative ideas. Visual generative AI platforms such as Midjourney and Visily come to the rescue by generating novel and visually appealing designs, providing creative inspiration, and expanding the range of possibilities. This enables UXers to craft interactive prototypes, more personalized visuals, and adaptive interfaces quicker (and of exceptionally high quality).

5. Cyclical design

The fear of failure can hinder innovation and experimentation. Generative AI empowers UXers to overcome this fear by facilitating rapid iterations and exploring multiple design variations. By providing a safe and efficient environment for idea exploration and hypothesis testing, AI encourages UXers to push boundaries and foster continuous improvement.

In the face of AI’s cautionary warnings, we must also focus on its potential benefits and positive influence on UX. The boundary between humans and machines is blurring, emphasizing the need for collaboration between UX designers and AI. Integrating AI into design demands ethical considerations and responsible implementation.

UX designers hold the responsibility to craft experiences that address ethical concerns of AI algorithms and detect potential biases and that differentiate so we can avoid design commoditization. By humanizing AI systems with inclusivity, fairness, transparency, uniqueness, and safety, we can shape a future where we design alongside AI, not against it.