How it feels matter as much as what it does

For a while, the product design field allowed some folks to pick between two different career paths: you could either be a user experience designer or a user interface designer. I never understood this separation. How can you call yourself a designer if you're only thinking about how something looks and not about how it actually works? These two things are so closely related that hiring separate people to handle each side of the design feels kind of crazy to me. Sure, some designers can do both, but those are few and far between.

AI is now quickly getting better at mocking up designs that look pretty decent. It’s not quite at the level of something a world-class designer would mockup, but it’s just a matter of months until it gets there. Because of this, designers need to refocus on the actual value they're bringing. Your value as a designer isn't just making something beautiful. You can have the most beautiful UI in the world, but if users can’t figure out how to use it, it’s worthless.

For example, think about designing a login screen where you'll need to show a UI screen from the app. Choosing the right screen isn't just about picking the most visually appealing option. It's about selecting a screen that clearly communicates the value of your product. Designers who care about the value of the product as much as they care about visual appeal are the ones who make a real impact.

Many people say “taste” is what will set us apart in the age of AI. But what exactly does taste even mean? To me, taste means designing experiences that show you really get your users. It's creating experiences where users never feel lost and can quickly see the value your product offers. Good design reduces the number of steps users need to do everyday tasks. Your main job as a designer is to reduce friction and make it obvious why your product is valuable.  Good design is simple, so much so that your team rarely ever get support emails. Good design is about creating a compelling onboarding flow. Great design is one where you almost don’t need one because everything is so well laid out and clear.

At the end of the day, your job is solving problems and deeply understanding the trade-offs of your decisions. That's the skill that will be most crucial moving forward.