Designers working in user experience (UX) technology roles have spent decades turning product ideas and briefs into storyboards and mock-ups. They focus historically on carefully drawing each screen state and button placement. Now, designers who are embracing AI are finding themselves with capabilities previously only dreamt about. 

AI has fundamentally reshaped UX interface design, not only through improved efficiency, but by expanding what designers can do and how we collaborate. Most significantly, it has helped to diminish the thorny divide between design and engineering.

The vibe coding breakthrough

Most people have experimented with ChatGPT, typing questions and receiving text responses. Now imagine that same conversational interface, but instead of text, you receive a fully interactive platform prototype you can click through, test with users and iterate on immediately.

This is 'vibe coding' which uses AI tools to generate working code from natural language descriptions. Instead of creating 20 static screens showing each step of a user journey, we can now prompt the system with a general description and receive an interactive prototype covering the entire user experience workflow.

AI is delivering incremental efficiency by designing complex features in the time we used to spend on simpler tasks, as well as improved versatility, offering direct access to what's possible in code. Too often when clients are presented with static images, they fixate on irrelevant details. By giving them working code, they can actually try it out, making the experience much more tangible, and ensuring communication between designer and end user becomes simpler and smoother.

Building our own tools

AI is also enabling us to create proprietary tools for specific challenges. It's reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement, where craftspeople who designed furniture also built their own tools to carve it.

For years in digital design, we've been separated from the people who actually build what we design because we speak different languages. Now we're learning to 'work with wood' ourselves. For example, when I need to design map features for the VIOOH Trading Manager interface, I can use AI to build a controller that lets me adjust markers, change distributions or switch visualisations. In 20 minutes, I have something visual and real to use as a basis for meaningful discussions with product managers, versus what was previously a traditionally cumbersome and lengthy process.

This isn't about replacing engineers. It's about designers developing new skills that bridge the gap. While AI helps engineers write better code, it also gives designers an entirely new capability. It’s creating the hybrid role of design engineer, which I believe will be among the most valuable opportunities for designers and businesses in the future.

Optimistic outlook 

I've recently been selected for BEDA's (Bureau of European Design Associations) expert panel on AI and digital ethics in design. Through this work and my experience at VIOOH, I'm convinced that normalisation and demystification of AI is crucial. 

What I encourage is optimism. Yes, some designers worry about tools like Canva replacing their work. But those who bring AI into their practice, who expand their skill sets and learn how to harness AI, will find themselves offering something genuinely new and valuable.

If you're beginning your design career now, pay attention to this emerging design engineer profile. Don't be afraid to try AI tools and train up in them. At VIOOH, we work extensively with V0 for design and Cursor for engineering collaboration. These tools are transforming how product managers, designers and engineers work together, bringing everyone to work at the same table, rather than operating in a ping-pong pattern.

The key challenge ahead is closing the gap between design and engineering entirely. Rather than two separate tasks, we need to uncover new ways of working, where these disciplines collaborate more closely. AI isn't bringing this change by itself, but it is the catalyst making it possible. When everyone can engage with the same interactive tools, entirely new workflows become feasible.

The designers who thrive won't be those who resist these tools, rather, instead they will be those who dive in and experiment. We're not just getting faster at existing jobs, we're expanding what design can be and even better, we’re working seamlessly with engineers and other teams. The real revelation is that AI has enabled far better human working relationships, and who doesn’t want more of that?!