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Will AI replace designers?
The short answer? Yes... but not in the way most people think.
When photography emerged in the 1800s, many believed painting would disappear. It didn't—it evolved.
When desktop publishing arrived in the 1980s, designers who embraced digital tools moved forward while others were left behind.
AI is another turning point.
I don't believe AI will replace creative work. I believe it will replace repetitive work—and expose those who refuse to evolve.
Ideas, taste, strategy and creative vision still come from people. AI is just a tool that amplifies them.
The future won't belong to designers who reject AI.
It will belong to designers who know how to use it better than everyone else.
What do you think? Will AI replace designers, or simply redefine what makes a great one?
The photography to painting parallel is such a good way to frame this. I think the designers who'll struggle most are the ones who saw their value as pure execution rather than judgment. What's the one skill you're doubling down on right now?
I'd say the one skill we should never lose is the ability to keep learning. I mean that in general , it applies to everything, not just design.
That's a good way to put it. Adaptability might end up being the actual core design skill, more than any specific tool or software fluency.
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
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Nick (@nickbakeddesign) just shared with @Daniel G Bright and I how he uses AI to think like a dev, design better products, and close higher‑quality clients, while staying tiny on purpose.
New UnContrad episode is live now for indie designers, studio owners, and creators serious about playing the long game.
Watch Full Episode below ↓
What transforms AI-generated assets into meaningful creative work?
I created a short cinematic vertical ad for the Envato challenge.
I really like the challenge theme because it reflects something I strongly believe: AI is a powerful creative tool, but it's the human behind the creative vision, direction, and decision-making that elevates the final result.
For this entry, I directed the entire creative process, from developing the concept, selecting the right stock assets, creating AI-generated visuals, color grading, and assembling the final ad.
Watch my complete workflow 👇
For this challenge, I created KUMO, a playful toy brand from scratch 🧸✨
I designed the toy characters, developed the branding, created custom mockups, and designed a website to bring the whole world together. I used Envato throughout the creative process for visuals, assets, experimentation, and refinement, while Suno helped me create the background music 🎵
From the toys to the website, I wanted every detail to feel playful, cohesive, and part of the same nostalgic world.
so cool!!
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