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3 ways I actually use AI as a product designer (these save real hours):
1/ Gap analysis in Figma
I ask the agent to scan my file and flag missing states - empty states, error flows, edge cases I didn't think of. On complex architectures this is genuinely impressive. It catches things I'd only find in QA.
2/ Generating screens from a design system
Once you have a solid DS, AI can draft new screens using your components, variables, font styles and overall styling. Not pixel-perfect, but fixing 20% of a screen beats starting from a blank canvas every time.
3/ Evolving the design system itself
With Figma MCP + agents, I can ask it to create new component states or organize existing ones, and since it reads your variables and styles, it mostly stays on-brand with little to no manual overrides.
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Can Claude Design really replace designers, or does it simply prove why designers are still needed?
I'm building a web-based motion app for designers, and I already have a pretty clear idea of how the interface should work. But building every screen by hand at this stage would be slow and, honestly, unnecessary
Right now, I don't need perfection
I need something visible enough to click through, adjust, and build from
And this is where Claude Design is actually useful!
Not as a replacement for a designer (because let's be honest, the design itself is not the strongest part), but as a tool for quick UX sketches
I like experimenting with AI tools, and I often give them minimal direction on purpose, just to leave space for them to "think" a little on their own. And very often, that's exactly where these tools show how far they still are from being "designer killers"
At first glance, the interface can look pretty nice
But then I enter the prototype with my curiosity, design thinking, and 9 years of experience, and the fairytale gets less magical
"Why did you add this?"
"Because there was space"
"What does this button do?"
"Nothing, I didn't think that far, sorry"
"What is this section for?"
"Analysis of a *completely imaginary area we're not even working with in this product*
And that's the point!
Claude Design can create a quick structure, but it doesn't truly understand the product, audience, logic, priorities, or tiny decisions that make an interface actually usable
So for me, it's a great tool for designers who already know what they're doing
A fast executor for early UX
A way to get a rough version out of your head
But definitely not a replacement for a designer
✦
btw, the video is a small peek into the product and the process behind the animation from my previous post
AI's great for scaffolding and prototyping different looks and layouts quickly, but still definitely needs a human touch. Animation looks great!
Could Claude Design replace your first design sprint?
I tested Claude Design to build a Personal Financial dashboard interactive prototype — starting with nothing but plain language and rough Figma screenshots. Here's my honest take:
✨ What wowed me
The depth of product logic genuinely surprised me. It didn't just lay out components — it thought like a product designer. It generated an insight like "If you increase your monthly contributions by £100, you'd end up with £112K" in the relevant section. Something I hadn't even thought to include.
🟡 The icons and layout felt warm and considered from the very first generation.
🟡 It even brought a lightweight design system: edit/set your fonts and background, and it updates across the entire prototype.
🟡 And before building anything, Claude Design asks thoughtful questions about your colour choices, fonts, and intent, which genuinely helps you spend your tokens wisely.
🚧 What it can't replace yet
The interaction layer. Some interactions worked, some were just layout — and for a mid-fidelity prototype, I get it. But crucial interactions need to function. That said, I think Claude Code will eventually sort this out.
The verdict? Claude Design isn't replacing Figma or a senior product designer anytime soon — but the thoughtfulness it brings to the first draft is genuinely impressive.
Have you tried building a prototype with AI yet? What was your experience? 👇
♥️ Btw, if anyone's interested in the product, I'm actually close to the final version! Follow @clearday.financial.dashboard for updates, stay tuned! 👀
good job
AI products don’t lose users because of features. They lose them because they look like experiments.
For Newly, we designed a landing page concept that communicates speed and credibility from the first screen. Newly lets users create mobile apps from AI prompts and publish directly to the App Store and Google Play — so the design had to feel structured, clean, and production-ready.
We built a clear layout system with strong hierarchy and used 3D animation to add depth without clutter.
This was created with a design subscription from FANCY — and yes, we’re currently open to new projects.
Looks Amazing 🔥
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