Notes from the frontline: How do designers feel about their profession?

From changes in work styles and processes, to the proliferation of generative AI tools, it's been a turbulent time for designers. But has this impacted how they feel about their careers?

To say the 2020s have been a rollercoaster for designers is an understatement.?

On the one hand, design increasingly has a seat at the leadership table, with McKinsey research showing design-driven companies deliver twice as much shareholder value than their competitors.?

But it's also been a time of upheaval. Remote working. Layoffs. And, most of all, the proliferation of generative AI tools that have made quality design more accessible than ever before.?

But, away from the noise, how do professional designers feel about the current landscape and career prospects??

This is one of the key questions Figma partnered with us on to explore in the State of the Designer 2023 report. And the results paint a rosier picture than you'd expect.?

Five times as many of the 470 designers from across Europe and Asia Pacific we interviewed for our research told us they feel positive about the profession than those who feel worse.?

More significantly, most respondents feel they're in a stronger position to build better products. And, 69% also said their employment options had "improved" or "greatly improved."

Opinions are more divided when it comes to generative AI.?

Some designers have argued that programs like Canva, Midjourney, and Sketch2Code devalue artistic skill.?

Others have taken a more pragmatic view.?

For instance, NewTerritory design and creative technology director Tim Smith observes : "AI has been serving designers for a long time already. Just look at the many Photoshop tools that autocorrect our images and fill in the blanks, the algorithms that reduce weight in componentry or adaptive typography that enhances legibility based on your biometrics."

The truth is probably somewhere in between.?

While generative AI is evolving at a rapid pace, it's still in its infancy. People are still exploring and experimenting. More to the point, AI is a tool. And like all tools, it's all about how you use it.?

"AI can rapidly iterate and instantly respond to inputs, speeding up certain processes, as well as producing diverse outcomes. But it cannot think, or problem solve, at least not in the same way a human can," concludes Blond founder and creative director James Melia.

"...you won’t get from AI the intellect, storytelling and innovative problem-solving which distinguishes great design solutions."

Knowledge is better when shared.

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