What impact is AI having on designers? Product Design Leader, Richard Bassett, shared his thoughts with us at our recent Product x Design event.&nbs...
What impact is AI having on designers? Product Design Leader, Richard Bassett, shared his thoughts with us at our recent Product x Design event.
So I think at the moment it kind of works really well if you're quite generalist - if you've got a bit of service design thinking, if you can do some research, if you can do UX and UI. But that's always going to be a compromise, and I would always lean towards having specialists.
If you look at the way companies like Miro are using AI, for example, you can put a Post-It note on a screen, and it will automatically create a prototype. That's a whole new way of thinking about design. It's quite a challenge because it's a very personalised experience with lots of different outcomes. It's very different from, say, designing news cards on a publishing or media site.
I think there's going to be a period where this sort of generalist approach works for a while. But if people can upskill in that AI space, show an interest, lean into the technology, play with it, and research it, then you could find yourself in a place where your skills evolve. You'll be able to design for those types of products.
I don't think those products generally exist at the moment. It's still very much people getting excited about AI, and it's very technology-led. But I think there will come a point where people find a human need or purpose for an experience, and AI will be the right fit for that. Then designers will have to desogm really personalised, customised experiences for those products, and that's going to require a much more specialist skill.
With over 20 years of blending user-centred design with strategic business goals, Richard Bassett is passionate about creating meaningful experiences that make a difference in people’s lives. In his career, Richard has developed and led diverse, high-performing teams, combining strategic leadership with hands-on research and design to deliver impactful results.
Richard has worked with renowned brands like Microsoft, SKY, The Times, BBC, and PepsiCo, leading innovation and strategic design that drives business success. Now, the Design Manager at Financial Times, he focusses on creating lasting impact with his work.
