Force Multiplying Design
As a design engineer working on AI products at DuckDuckGo, I found this post by Karri Saarinen particularly resonant. I often reflect on how AI isn’t here to replace us, but rather to amplify our abilities, acting as a force multiplier for both speed and impact.
AI doesn’t strip away the craft of design; instead, it removes some of the friction that slows us down. It’s like having an extra pair of hands that can rapidly prototype, surface inconsistencies, and even enforce design standards, allowing us to focus on the nuanced, high-impact decisions that truly define a product. The idea that AI might ruin visual quality feels misguided because, as highlighted, quality has always depended on the human touch – our taste, judgement, and willingness to iterate.
What excites me most is how AI enables me to design closer to code. This is where the democratisation of code comes into play. By breaking down traditional barriers between design and development, AI empowers designers to engage directly with the codebase, fostering a more integrated and fluid workflow. This democratisation means that design decisions are no longer isolated from implementation; instead, there’s a seamless interaction where designers can test, tweak, and perfect their ideas within the actual product environment. It reduces dependency on extensive handovers and revisions, accelerating the entire development cycle.
However, with this increased access and efficiency, the role of taste becomes even more critical. As AI handles more of the repetitive, mechanical tasks, the responsibility of ensuring quality and coherence rests squarely on our shoulders. Taste isn’t just a subjective preference; it’s a refined skill that guides decision-making, influences aesthetics, and shapes user experience. Good taste helps us discern when a design feels intuitive versus clunky, elegant versus over-engineered. It’s our compass for navigating the vast possibilities AI presents, ensuring that the output isn’t just functional but also delightful and human-centric.
AI’s ability to elevate the baseline allows us to devote more time to the craftsmanship that often suffers under tight deadlines. By being strategic with our creative energy, we can focus on storytelling, emotional resonance, and subtle details that define exceptional work. Our collaboration with AI enables us to push boundaries, experiment fearlessly, and iterate rapidly without compromising on quality.
Ultimately, AI is not about handing over the reins to machines; it’s about collaborating with them to design smarter, faster, and with greater impact. By democratising code and emphasising the irreplaceable value of human taste, we are not just enhancing productivity—we are redefining what it means to create meaningful, high-quality design in the digital age.