To stay relevant, designers must focus on creativity and unique branding.
From ‘Modern times’ (1936) — Charlie Chaplin
TL;DR As AI-driven tools and extensive UI libraries become more advanced, the role of traditional UI designers is being challenged. Teams can now create visually appealing and functional applications without the need for specialized design expertise, raising concerns about the commoditization of design. However, while these tools can handle the basics, they often lead to generic, look-alike interfaces. The true value of designers lies in their ability to craft unique branding and user experiences that stand out in a crowded market. To stay relevant, designers must adapt by focusing on the creative aspects that cannot be replicated by automation.
AI-Powered tools: Redefining the role of designers
In recent years, the rapid advancement of AI has led to the creation of a wide array of tools that can produce production-ready user interfaces with surprising efficiency. These AI-driven platforms are capable of generating clean, functional designs that often meet the basic requirements of modern digital applications. For businesses, this means that the process of creating a visually appealing and user-friendly interface is no longer as complex or time-consuming as it once was. What once required the expertise of seasoned designers can now be accomplished, to a certain degree, by automated systems.
The rise of these tools has made it possible for even non-designers to produce decent UI, posing a significant challenge to the traditional role of UI designers in the industry.
Vercel’s v0 is a prime example of this trend. With just a straightforward prompt, you can generate a fairly good UI in React (and other leading frameworks) in a matter of seconds.
https://medium.com/media/98ecb338e46a309b39bca516212c50ae/href
In addition to AI tools, the software market is flooded with a massive variety of UI libraries offering a broad spectrum of pre-designed components. These libraries range from basic buttons and input fields to more complex layouts and interactive elements. The availability of such extensive resources means that development teams have an abundance of design solutions at their fingertips. This has made it easier than ever to assemble functional and aesthetically pleasing applications without needing to engage a dedicated designer. With just a few clicks, developers can implement polished components into their projects, ensuring that the final product looks professional and user-friendly, even if the creators lack formal design training.
From shadc/ui
Shadcn/ui is an excellent example of a comprehensive and easy-to-use UI library because it offers a wide range of pre-built components that are both customizable and flexible, making it accessible to developers of all skill levels. The library is designed to integrate seamlessly with popular frameworks, providing detailed documentation and examples that simplify implementation. Its focus on delivering clean, responsive, and consistent design elements allows developers to quickly build polished interfaces without sacrificing quality or usability.
A killer combination: cost reduction and shorter time-to-market
Given these advancements, it’s increasingly possible for teams to create usable, clean, and good-looking applications without the involvement of a professional designer. As AI continues to evolve and UI libraries become more sophisticated, the gap between developer and designer roles appears to be narrowing. For startups and smaller companies, in particular, this presents an enticing prospect: they can reduce costs and speed up production by relying on these tools instead of hiring specialized design talent. This aligns with the fundamental principle of capitalism, where every productive process is driven by the need for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness to maintain competitiveness. Businesses are constantly seeking ways to optimize their operations, and the use of AI and UI libraries represents a significant leap in this direction. By automating and streamlining design processes, companies can achieve faster turnaround times and lower expenses, which are crucial for survival and growth in a highly competitive market.
On the other hand, large organizations might still struggle to replace human designers given the complexity of their systems and the level of specialization required. These enterprises often operate on a larger scale with more intricate design needs that cannot be fully addressed by off-the-shelf tools alone. They require a nuanced understanding of brand identity, user experience, and system integration that goes beyond the capabilities of automated solutions. However, this shift towards commoditization raises important questions about the future of UI design as a profession.
As the tools become more efficient and accessible, the role of designers may need to evolve to focus on areas that machines cannot easily replicate, such as strategic thinking, innovation, and the deep emotional connections that drive brand loyalty. The challenge for the design profession will be to adapt and redefine its value proposition in an era where efficiency and cost reduction are paramount.
A clear indication that the design market is undergoing significant adjustments is the dramatic decline in UX job listings worldwide in 2023. As highlighted in recent reports, the tech industry, including the user experience sector, has faced substantial challenges due to widespread layoffs and hiring freezes. The data from Indeed, which tracks job market trends, reveals a stark drop in demand for UX professionals. Specifically, job listings for UX research have plummeted by 71%, and those for UX design have decreased by 70% since their peak in early 2022. This sharp decline underscores the broader impact of market changes on the design profession, reflecting a shift in how businesses approach hiring and an increasing emphasis on efficiency and cost reduction amid a more turbulent economic climate.
From Indeed Design ‘UX Job Listings Plunged in 2023’
The pitfall of commoditization: the rise of visual monotony and superficial decision-making
One significant downside to this trend of commoditization is that when everyone uses the same tools and libraries, everything begins to look the same. The individuality and uniqueness that were once hallmarks of great design are at risk of being lost in a sea of homogeneity. Applications that rely heavily on common UI libraries often end up with a generic appearance, lacking the distinctiveness that can make a product stand out in a crowded market. The widespread use of these tools can lead to a kind of visual monotony, where users struggle to differentiate between products because they all share similar design patterns and aesthetics.
Additionally, relying on these tools without a deep understanding of the underlying design principles can lead to superficial decision-making. Teams may implement design elements simply because they are readily available, rather than thoughtfully considering why each design choice is made. This lack of critical thinking behind design decisions can result in interfaces that are not only visually indistinct but also functionally ineffective, as the rationale behind usability and user experience may be overlooked in favor of convenience.
In an article by John Cerpnjak called “How commoditization killed the designer”, the author quotes an article of How Magazine, titled “An Irreversible Movement,” by David C. Baker, were he said:
Design is or (soon will be) approaching commodity status, but the management of the design process is difficult, misunderstood, and undervalued.
These articles are several years old, and the technological advancements we see today were beyond what anyone could have imagined during those earlier discussions.
The silent ambassador
This is where the role of designers remains critical. The one aspect of product design that cannot be commoditized is branding. Branding encompasses more than just logos and color schemes; it’s about creating a cohesive identity that resonates with users and conveys the essence of what a product or company stands for. While AI tools and UI libraries can handle the functional aspects of design, they lack the creative intuition required to craft a brand’s unique visual language. Designers possess the ability to infuse personality into a product, ensuring that it not only meets usability standards but also tells a compelling story. This aspect of design — crafting a brand that connects with users on an emotional level — cannot be replicated by automated tools.
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.” — Paul Rand
To stay relevant in this evolving landscape, product designers need to adapt and rethink their value proposition. The future of design lies in areas that AI and commoditized tools cannot easily replicate, such as branding, user experience (UX) strategy, and innovative design thinking. Designers must focus on enhancing their skills in these areas and become more integrated into the strategic planning of products. By positioning themselves as experts in creating unique brand identities and crafting user experiences that go beyond the superficial, designers can maintain their relevance and continue to play a crucial role in the software market. Those who fail to adapt may find themselves edged out by the very tools that were supposed to assist them.
Reskilling is imperative
In a very insightful article by HBR named “Reskilling in the Age of AI”, the authors pose that in the coming years, as technological advancements accelerate, millions of workers will likely need not only to be upskilled but also reskilled, which involves acquiring entirely new skills and sometimes even changing careers. This complex challenge places significant responsibility on companies, though many have yet to fully address it.
To understand the role businesses must play, researchers from Harvard’s Digital Reskilling Lab and the Boston Consulting Group’s Henderson Institute interviewed leaders from 40 global organizations involved in large-scale reskilling efforts.
They identified five emerging paradigm shifts:
Reskilling Is a Strategic ImperativeReskilling Is the Responsibility of Every Leader and ManagerReskilling Is a Change-Management InitiativeEmployees Want to Reskill — When It Makes SenseReskilling Takes a Village
The authors assert that companies and professionals must grasp and adopt these shifts to successfully navigate the new era of automation and AI.
A double-edged sword
The commoditization of UI is a double-edged sword for designers. On one hand, it democratizes design, making it accessible to a broader audience while raising the bar on quality. On the other, it threatens to erode the uniqueness that distinguishes great products from merely good ones. Designers who can pivot and focus on the elements of design that resist commoditization — branding, UX, and creative innovation — will not only survive but thrive in this new era. However, those who cling to traditional roles without evolving risk being left behind as the market continues to move towards more automated, commoditized solutions.
Sources:
Indeed Design — UX Job Listings Plunged in 2023Harvard Business Review — Reskilling in the Age of AIJohn Cerpnjak — How commoditization killed the designer
UI commoditization: are designers at risk? was originally published in UX Collective on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
