Designing with AI: What the Future Holds
When you ask designers about the future of AI in their work, you usually get two reactions: excitement about new possibilities and caution about what might be lost. In a recent conversation with two of our senior designers, Jerry Huang and Joe Dolack, that balance of optimism and skepticism was on full display.
The Everyday Magic of AI
Jerry was the first to chime in when I asked how AI is changing his design work. His answer was immediate: “It takes the grind out of the job.”
He pointed to the tools already built into Photoshop. Need a background removed? Done in seconds. Want to track motion or fix color corrections? AI now handles it faster and more accurately than ever. Tasks that once required painstaking repetition can now be completed in a click or two.
Joe nodded along, adding his own favorite shortcut. “If I need a wide banner image but only have a tight photo, I can just expand the background with AI. Type in a quick prompt like ‘continue the wall’ and suddenly I’ve got multiple options ready to drop into my layout.”
It’s not just about convenience—it’s about shifting focus. As Joe put it, “Instead of getting bogged down in execution, we can focus more on creative direction.”
Cutting Costs and Rethinking Video
The conversation quickly turned to video production, where the impact of AI feels even bigger.
“Think about it,” Joe said. “A commercial once meant hiring actors, booking locations, renting cameras, and spending weeks in post-production. Now, with the right AI tools, you could generate a polished video with nothing more than a storyline and a few style choices.”
Jerry agreed, pointing out that what used to take three months can now be completed in a week. Post-production—a stage once notorious for dragging on—can be handled with a few style prompts: vintage film look, futuristic tones, saturated colors.
The savings are undeniable. But both designers acknowledged that while AI can mimic style and speed up workflows, it can’t fully capture the emotion or nuance of human storytelling. At least not yet.
Hybrid Creativity
So, will AI replace traditional production? Not entirely, our designers think.
Joe envisions a hybrid model: “AI handles the heavy lifting, but humans guide the vision.” He sees marketing content especially benefiting from AI’s speed and versatility, while big-budget films and deeply human stories will still rely on people to capture emotional truth.
Jerry estimated AI might cut out about 30% of the repetitive work in video and graphic production—but insisted that human oversight remains essential. “Movies tell human stories,” he reminded us. “AI doesn’t understand relationships or emotions the way we do.”
Keeping the Creative Voice Intact
One of the trickiest parts of working with AI is making sure the results still reflect your vision. Both designers agreed it takes patience.
“You have to experiment,” Joe said. “Sometimes the first result is nothing like what you pictured. But tweak the prompt, refine it, and often it gets surprisingly close.”
Jerry described AI as a “design partner” that learns your preferences over time. The more you work with it, the more it aligns with your style—almost like an assistant who gets better with experience.
The Ethical Dilemma
Of course, no discussion about AI in design would be complete without touching on the ethical questions it raises.
Jerry was quick to bring up copyright. “AI is trained on existing art—without asking permission. That’s a problem.” He also noted the risk of fake content, from manipulated images to fabricated videos.
Joe added the growing concern around deepfakes and the use of artists’ work without credit or compensation. “People are starting to push back,” he said. “But the technology is evolving so fast, it’s hard to regulate.”
Both agreed that transparency, fair compensation, and thoughtful policies will be critical if AI is to move forward responsibly.
Looking Forward
Despite the challenges, neither designer sounded discouraged.
Joe described the field as “exciting and full of potential.” He sees businesses racing to explore new ways to apply AI—and believes staying curious and adaptable will be key.
Jerry took a broader view. “AI is going to touch every part of life—government, education, entertainment. For us as designers, it’s about learning to use it well. If we see AI as a helper, not a threat, it can help us overcome obstacles and open new opportunities.”
The Bottom Line
AI isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s a new collaborator. It can speed up the boring parts, cut costs, and open doors to possibilities that once felt out of reach. But it also raises big questions about ownership, ethics, and what makes design truly human.
As Jerry summed it up: “AI is like an extra set of hands. The real question is, how will we use them?”
At Nayamode, we’re not simply experimenting with AI—we’re weaving it into the fabric of our creative process, shaping a future where design is faster, smarter, and more human than ever.