Hey everyone! I'm currently working on a survey for my college thesis that explores how generative AI tools are being integrated into the web design process. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this. Here are some questions I'd like you to answer in your own way:
1. How would you describe your current approach to web design?
2. Have you used any generative AI tools in your design work? If so, at which stages and for what tasks?
3. What are your expectations for AI tools in your day-to-day work?
4. What benefits have you noticed when using generative AI in your design process, such as speed, creativity, or efficiency?
5. What challenges or limitations have you encountered when working with AI tools in design?
6. In what types of projects do you find AI tools helpful, and when are they less useful?
7. How has using AI changed your design workflow?
8. Can you share a specific example where AI either greatly helped or complicated a project?
9. Has your team done any training to adapt to using AI tools?
10. What generative AI tools have you tried, and which would you recommend for professional web design?
11. What differences do you see between traditional web design results versus those generated with AI?
12. Do you think integrating AI impacts creativity and originality in design? How so?
13. How do you assess the complexity, cost, and sustainability of AI tools in comparison to traditional methods?
14. Where do you see the role of generative AI in web design heading in the future?
15. What do you believe is essential for successfully implementing AI tools in web design?
16. What advice would you give to designers and teams just starting with AI tools?
Thanks a bunch for taking the time to share your insights!
3 Answers
1. For me, web design starts with collaborating closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, understand their vision, and create user stories. I then design wireframes before moving on to high-fidelity designs.
2. I've used Figma AI to generate some visual elements, but I find it mostly useful for quick wireframes. Ultimately, design requires thoughtful decision-making that AI can't fully manage.
3. Many tools are integrating AI, but I think a lot of it is just for show to attract investment rather than being genuinely useful.
4. Honestly, I don't notice any major benefits: it feels about the same.
5. The hype around AI can lead clients to expect more for less, which sets unrealistic expectations. They think they can just use AI and cut costs.
6. I find AI tools don't work well at all in visual design, especially for unique designs.
7. No noticeable change in my workflow.
8. My experience is similar to my earlier points; tools haven't significantly improved anything.
9. We're always testing new tools, but most haven't impressed us yet.
10. I’d suggest trying Figma AI for basic design tasks, but I'm not sold on its effectiveness overall.
11. AI designs tend to look too familiar and derivative. If you want something original, you still need a designer.
12. It limits originality because AI pulls from existing data, leading to unoriginal results.
13. Currently, I don't see any AI tools worthy of full integration into our processes.
14. I don’t think much will change in the near future; there's a lot of hype but limited real utility.
15. Understanding the limitations of AI is key.
16. My advice? Be cautious about the promises of AI and ensure you know its limitations before diving in.
1. I focus on understanding functional requirements, performance specs, and choosing the right tools. It’s all about writing effective code for me.
2. Absolutely. I think LLMs are great for generating boilerplate code, especially in verbose frameworks like React. They help me quickly get examples when I'm lost.
3. Similar to other perspectives, AI features are often just marketing tools. They're not always useful for what we actually need.
4. I see productivity gains with new tools, but they vary by framework. Some AI tools are great, others not so much.
5. The models are only as good as their training data; a lot of garbage code influences what they produce. They work best if you have a strong understanding of what you need them to generate.
6. If you give clear instructions, LLMs can be really helpful. They basically act as a knowledge multiplier, but if you don’t know your stuff, they can lead you astray.
7. Overall, I think they have the potential to ease the coding process, but I wouldn't rely on them entirely.
8. Just like with design, I think the efficiency of AI tools varies and they definitely require the user to be knowledgeable first.
You made a good point about client expectations. Sometimes the hype about AI leads to misunderstandings about what it can actually deliver. It's really important for us as designers to set those expectations right.