How AI will transform early stage careers in the design field, and what can young students learn in order to thrive

Article on AI written by Kaira Gupta , Grade 12 student at Inventure Academy and student intern at Rezonant Design

“A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human” - A quote that speaks a thousand words.

If AI is created by humans, don’t they have the power to choose how much control it will have?

AI has created a large impact on various industries across the globe. The vastness of what it can do ranges from washing dishes all the way to producing complex codes, all under 3 minutes. It is revolutionizing and taking over the world, but this is only when we, humans, let it. While AI is a productive and efficient way of getting things done, it also is replacing people, taking their jobs, and making them lethargic. AI will just keep growing, so what is its impact on the design industry and students who are looking to pursue a career in design? AI has the power to produce ideas, inspire and change a whole design, but can it produce unique ideas and think in creative ways like a human mind?

Primary research

I asked my parents and grandparents what they think AI is and if they ever thought technology would get so advanced. They shared their thoughts on how in their lifetime, they have seen changes from no phones to smartphones, small cable televisions to smart bluetooth televisions, small cars to big luxury cars and lots more. They and everyone in that generation never expected for technology to play such a crucial role in our lives. AI focuses on various things such as machine learning, automation and customer service. In the future, it will continuously help in the educational sector, healthcare sector, manufacturing sector and much more.

My dad told me about how AI has helped him understand more about technology and delve into the technology aspect of things.

He understood it as the ability for everything around us to be a machine and be controlled through voice or remotes. Every task and requirement will be tailored to the personal needs of the user. AI will focus on personalization, smart infrastructure, scientific research, the government, robotics and much more. AI is transforming careers, but specifically the design industry. Repetitive tasks will be automated such as colour correction, background subtraction, content generation, file organization, vectorizing images, finding possible suggestions and lots more.?

My mom has a design store of her own, so I asked her how AI has affected her job and the people she recruits. She emphasized on the fact that the people she hires need to be highly skilled, people who can think beyond what AI can do.

On the other hand, it also made it easier for her in certain ways such as understanding trends and the market. There will be a higher level of thinking at a faster pace. More creative and innovative ideas at higher efficiency and productivity which can be used as inspiration for young designers. AI will be researching and analyzing the trends and preferences of the audience.

Power of AI

AI can also transform careers as it would allow customization, but to what extent can it understand mood, cultural significance and emotion that the customer depicts while sharing the user experience they would like to have. Design is a form of expression and emotion, design is a process of understanding what the user wants and producing work to satisfy those wants. While it seems like just a 2 step process, it requires many smaller steps such as empathizing with the user, understanding their background and finding ways to include who they are into their company and design. It is talking to the customer at various stages and getting constant feedback to produce better work each time, finally to reach the end goal of satisfying the customer. Having a personal touch and catering to niche ideas which AI cannot achieve while designers have a nuanced understanding.?

AI will benefit the design industry in many ways such as providing better tools for efficient communication and remote working, making project management easier.

Designers will also be able to control the tools and improvise their skillset. Furthermore, it can be used to create immersive experiences, interactive interfaces, and other ways to keep an audience engaged. The economic impact will be large as it is a faster process and does not require manual labour, reducing the cost of services. Ignoring AI will just make it stronger, but it is important to play with this and utilize it to its full potential.

AI in the future

AI will impact job availability but won't completely take over jobs; it will change the nature of work. When I was a child, I used to be fascinated with the different mechanisms and functioning of robots, but as more were created, it truly showed me the impact it's creating on people and the environment around me. The thought about AI taking over jobs scares everyone but there are ways to work around it, such as upskilling employees towards more advanced and technical skills to be able to understand and control the technology. Job Polarization could come into the playing field, where only the highly skilled or low skilled workers will thrive as the middle skilled jobs decline. Hence, designers should start training and positioning themselves in the highly skilled category for job security.?

AI will be able to enhance efficiency, but over reliance on automation can have an impact on the creativity of young designers and the thinking of the design process. It can hinder the mind from thinking beyond what is available on the internet, hence a balance between the usage of AI and the human mind is important for not only designers, but is applicable to people in every industry.?

Why the human mind is important in design

AI can do a lot in a shorter duration, but what can it not change in the design industry? Human imagination is one of the biggest aspects. True intuitions, aesthetic judgment, creativity and understanding of the social context and culture can not be achieved through AI. Making ethical and moral judgments, such as considering the social and environmental impact, is something only a human can do. This comes into play when thinking about the inclusivity of a design or how a material contributes to the world's emissions.?

Design comes down to telling a story, how can a design weave a story of a place or person. It's a human skill that can only be understood from human to human.

Understanding the psychology behind a design is interpreted and is designed using empathy which AI lacks. Design brings minds together to find solutions in various dynamic environments.?

New designers stepping into the field of AI

New designers entering the field need a broad skill set, beyond design knowledge, to thrive alongside AI. While knowing design and aesthetics is important, understanding AI and machine learning is more important. Having hands-on experience with AI integrated softwares such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma is something designers should start learning and excel at. They need to learn to adapt and think fast to respond based on the trends in the industry as well as the new and upcoming advancements that are everlasting.?

Lastly, understanding problem solving to collaborate with tools and produce quality work. I was always told something as a child, and it was to always have a strong base to excel at anything and this applies for design thinking as well. Before jumping into big softwares and solutions, understanding the small things is the most important.?

AI in the design field has its opportunities as well as challenges. Designers should be encouraged to embrace it as an ally and learn to work with the tool rather than against it. When what makes design, design, changes, then even the people and requirements will change. Constant development of AI and technology has prepared students of this generation and generations to come to predict and understand trends. Students and young designers should adapt to the technologies to stay relevant in the industry.

“AI is just a tool, the choice of how it gets deployed is ours”.

About the Author

I am Kaira Gupta and I am 17 years old. I study in Inventure Academy, Bangalore and want to pursue Design and Business in the Future. I am an extrovert and love meeting new people. I enjoy watching movies, traveling, going out with friends, baking and listening to music. I wrote this article with the intention to build my own knowledge about artificial intelligence and connect it to the career I plan on pursuing.?