Why you still need a designer when AI makes interfaces
AI can produce interface options quickly. A designer makes the workflow understandable, coherent, accessible, and appropriate for the people using it.
01An attractive screen is only part of the job
A product designer connects a person’s goal to the information and actions on a screen. That includes deciding what appears first, how navigation works, which language makes sense, and what happens when the user has incomplete information.
Generating several polished options is useful. Choosing which option supports the actual task requires product context, critique, and feedback from the people who will use it.
02Our product design starting point is Claude /design
Nicholas uses Claude /design for product design. Bring the existing components, brand system, target audience, core journey, and content constraints. Generate an interactive direction, then refine it before implementation.
The designer’s work is to question the default: can a new user find the next action, recover from a mistake, read the content, and operate the interface with a keyboard? Ask for loading, empty, error, success, and mobile states alongside the main screen.
03Review the implemented experience as well as the design
A development handoff should identify components, spacing and type rules, responsive changes, interaction behavior, and the states the engineer must preserve. A screenshot alone leaves many decisions unspecified.
After implementation, review the actual browser experience. Check reading order, contrast, focus visibility, labels, touch targets, and long content. Automated checks can help, but they do not replace watching a person try the important task.
04Image and website work still needs art direction
Codex is also part of our workflow for images, logo exploration, landing pages, and websites. A designer helps keep those outputs consistent with the product and brand rather than treating each generated asset as a separate style.
You may need a focused design engagement instead of a permanent design department. You still benefit from someone owning the decisions and leaving a usable system for the next page or feature.
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