For this reading I chose Michael F. Buckley’s “Design is dead. And we have killed it.” This paper shows Buckley’s grim outlook on artificial intelligence and how it will kill the field of design. He argues that unlike previous tools for efficiency, artificial intelligence will be a more cost effective replacement to hard working designers. I however disagree. I believe that while some lower level designers may be replaced by artificial intelligence, those who truly excel at their craft will survive or even thrive. Not to say that artificial intelligence shouldn't be used as a tool, I believe that as artificial intelligence takes a larger grasp on the design industry, artists who are competent without artificial intelligence will become a premium. If you can design without artificial intelligence you should be able to charge more than someone who simply engineers a prompt. I think companies will seek this out and hire based on this. The author also argues that artificial intelligence design will replace human design in other ways, but this article proves this isn’t true. As long as there are people who truly love to design, they will continue to be at the forefront of the industry and lead the way for trends and design practices.
Michael Buckley continues to argue that eventually, artificial intelligence driven design solutions will become so seamless that today’s designs will become unnecessary. He tells of a future where artificial intelligence will be able to predict you so well that it will be able to circumvent any friction in the decision pipeline such as websites and branding and simply make all choices for you. He says that eventually there will be no need to search for what you want. I disagree with this. Humans naturally strive for the sense of choice, we love the feeling of control we have. I would hate it if an artificial intelligence picked my outfit every morning. This simple task which I do every day allows me to show my sense of style in my own way. We as humans don’t always want the most optimized and data driven solutions. We seek experiences, emotions, and connections with brands. Even in a world of artificial intelligence recommendations, the story and personality behind a product will continue to matter to us. A website generated by artificial intelligence may serve its purpose, but will it evoke the same trust, credibility, and emotional connection as a thoughtfully crafted design by a human who understands the cultural and social nuances of the audience?
I don’t think that artificial intelligence marks the death of design, I think it marks the next step (ot the next challenge) for designers to adapt to. While Buckley himself acknowledges the unpredictability of the future surrounding the subject, the conclusion of his writing suggests that he is leaning towards resignation and not resilience. Instead of fearing obsolescence I think that designers should take the opportunity to hone their skills, uniqueness and focus on high level creative thinking and strategy. Human judgement is utterly irreplaceable.
While Michael Buckley’s concerns about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence advancements are valid, his grand statement that “design is dead” is an exaggeration that takes away from the gift of human creativity. Artificial intelligence is not the end of design, it is the next chapter where designers who grow with technological advancements will not just survive but thrive. The coming years of design will not be one of extinction, but of evolution. The question is not whether design will go away, but how designers will innovate alongside artificial intelligence to shape the future of creativity.