AI PROCESS
A Designer’s AI Experiment
As a UX designer, I’m always looking for ways to streamline my workflow and push creative boundaries. When I heard about Figma’s new AI capabilities ‘Make’, I had try it.
I wanted to know: Can a tool quickly prototype a complete, narrative-driven landing page from scratch? I decided to put it to the test, and the results were more than I expected.
My goal was to create a modern, experimental landing page for a creative digital business.
The prompt I gave the AI was simple, yet specific:
"Design a landing page for a creative digital business with an emphasis on design experimentation, digital visuals, and technology. The focus should be on showcasing innovative and experimental work and trends in the digital design industry."
What happened next was a fascinating look into the future of design. After a few minutes, the result was a fully designed, visually rich landing page.
The AI at Work
From a blank canvas, the AI started to work its magic.
Within minutes, it wasn’t just generating a static layout; it was building a complete design system. It created
- Components
- Wrote placeholder copy
- Generating the underlying code in React.
These are a crucial steps for agile teams, as it gives developers a head start, saving hours of manual work.
The AI interpreted my prompt and delivered a bold hero section with eye-catching gradients, a featured work gallery with interactive cards, and sections dedicated to services and industry trends.
Responsiveness
Seeing the Design in Action
One of the most impressive parts of this process was how the AI handled responsiveness.
In a world where a mobile-first approach is essential, the tool automatically created a seamless transition for different screen sizes. This is where the AI truly starts to realise the user experience, providing solutions for interactive elements and flawless responsiveness.
I wanted to know: Can a tool quickly prototype a complete, narrative-driven landing page from scratch?
The results were more than I expected.
Questions
Two Big Questions
Validation or Innovation?
AI delivered a solid foundation, tackling about 60% of the work with remarkable speed. It created a baseline of good UX patterns and clean code.
Did this tool just save me time?
… or did it save me from a necessary part of the creative process?
Should we feel validated that an AI can generate our base-level patterns?
… or does it challenge us to push web design even further to the limit?
Design Spark
Where is the Magic?
While this technology is powerful, it comes with a few caveats
These tools can save us from the mundane, repetitive tasks. But the real magic of design, the element that makes a project truly stand out is the unique human perspective. It’s the storytelling, the subtle emotional cues, and the a-ha moments that only a human designer can bring.
- It’s currently an enterprise-level feature, locked behind a paywall.
- The feature must be enabled by an administrator.
AI in the Design Process
- AI as a Powerful Concept-to-Iteration Accelerator: AI can undeniably provide the whole concept-to-iteration process in a rudimentary form. It’s a fantastic starting point for generating initial layouts, code, and even responsive designs, significantly speeding up the early stages of a project.
- The Hybrid Future is Here: My experience demonstrated that the most effective approach is a hybrid one. AI provides the speed and initial ideation, while human designers bring the empathy, critical thinking, strategic insight, and nuanced refinement necessary to create truly exceptional user experiences.
However, AI requires human oversight for true refinement and strategic alignment.
My three takeouts
So, while AI can build the foundation, I believe our role is to continue pushing the boundaries
Ensure that every design tells a meaningful story and connects with its audience.
Is this the future of design, or just a powerful new tool in our creative arsenal?
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