We're in a World Where Designers Have Huge Amounts of Leverage

Open topics
,
1

Designers have been in a pretty tough position for the last 5 or so years (maybe longer?). PMs making all of the important decisions, designers taking the high-road for what they think matters.

People think that AI is going to increase this problem. I’d say they’re wrong.

I want to share a small example of a new tool that was launched not too long ago:

System Design Simulator 2026-02-18 at 9.44.08 AM
System Design Simulator 2026-02-18 at 9.44.08 AM3824×1730 314 KB

It’s a visual way to look at architecture, find bottlenecks, etc. You can find it here if you’re truly interested: https://paperdraw.dev/

What’s interesting: a particular trend that I’m noticing, is that with the ease of pumping out code, people are leaning into visual workflows. 3D Graphs to display complex data relations, web games to visualize AI outputs, and so much more.

My guess is that we’ll keep seeing this trend. Harder things have become easier. A fully animated site with complex 3D renderings are easier to produce than ever… but the better question is should you?

I do agree that we have to be shooting for things that improve understanding, make interaction friendlier and easier to access, but if the visuals are making things overly complex, and forcing users to focus on the wrong things, it probably isn’t worth it.

I think this is where designers are going to shine. What’s actually worth implementing and what isn’t in a world full of near-infinite choices.

It’s cool to see how the world is changing. I’ve seen even more people take up building video games, creating movie scenes, and doing things that they just didn’t have the desire to do it because the skill gaps were just so large.

With infinite, cheap execution, the designer’s eyes become the world’s most valuable asset.

2 Likes
AI Won’t Save Your Thinking (Q&A)
2

Yuuuuus! I thought this was funny because the emphasis on how “anyone can design these days” being more of a narrative with AI support.

But let us not forget our friend…. or foe? :wink: (kidding) “Dear developers: I love you. Please stop designing.”

I loved her post so much for this reason! Design is still so necessary & the voice in the room is almost more important than ever! IMO, I think we’ll see a large drop in quality as people try to iron this out.

2 Likes
3

I think every career is still currently needed even in the product realm, but the tasks keep changing.

1 Like
4

Mmm, tasks, yes. But associated / perceived value too..

1 Like
5

Yes- agreed! So, how do you lean into what’s valuable?

6

I’d argue in our current climate of work, its continuing to lean into judgement. Like @Bryan has called out continuously, outcomes. I think the getting there part (deciding what matters, why it matters, and when it’s good enough) is where the value shows up, currently.

1 Like
7

Design is becoming more like an operating system that shapes how products work, people interact and agents follow.

1 Like
8

Agreed!

9

This is where taste will become such a large part of designers’ jobs moving forward. No longer taste in their own ability to design, but taste in (in)validating the design variations that AI can push out much faster. And we all know AI mostly gets the structure of objects right without really nailing all the details, so there’s going to be an emphasis on their skills in finish work rather than creative explorations.

1 Like
The Human MOAT!
10

Agreed! Taste is everything for a lot of people. I’m starting to see custom, niche SaaS software as restaurants, big product companies like mcdonalds, and build-it-yourself people like cook from home

11

I’d argue only 1/10 designers have taste. So does that mean we only need 1/10 the designers?

1 Like
12

Think Sesame Street GIF

13

Spoken like a true designer.

Footprints GIF by WMEvangelism

“I am the only one with taste!”

1 Like
14

haha, I was going to say…. 1/10?! Especially when taste is subjective. No wonder so many people are worried about their value. haha.

2 Likes
15

I’m not worried, especially for people who are seeing this early. But, I am worried about the people with taste who are pretty eccentric (I’m looking at you @EricZ :rofl:).

1 Like
16

Agreed. I think this shift is forcing the best creators to serve as curators, influencers, and drivers of feedback.

ai-illusion-of-done
ai-illusion-of-done2160×2700 211 KB

1 Like
17

I keep coming back to the idea of leverage. AI is making it really easy for teams to build faster than ever…more ideas, more screens, more output…

…but I don’t think it’s making it any easier to decide what actually matters.

And that’s where I’m seeing a lot of things start to feel off in all these outputs. In a few conversations I had last week, the pattern was the same with the customers I was advising. Teams (especially engineering) are moving faster, but they’re not always clearer. There’s more getting created, but not always more impact.

I put together some more thoughts on where I think design creates leverage.

1 Like
18

Do research agents count? :laughing:

19

Speaking of research agents, Glare is live!

Excited to make the framework more Agent friendly.

glare-product-design-decisions
glare-product-design-decisions1080×1350 65.6 KB

3 Likes
20

WOOOOOTTTTTT :collision: proud of you guys!!! This is amazing.

1 Like