| name | ai-design-workflow |
| description | AI tool integration into the design process, structured prompting for designers, creative AI usage with clear boundaries, and review workflows. |
AI Design Workflow
AI is an assistant, not an autopilot. You retain control over direction, decisions, and quality. AI accelerates individual steps but replaces neither strategy nor judgment.
Scope
Use this skill when you:
- Integrate AI tools purposefully into design phases
- Structure prompts for design tasks
- Evaluate and contextualize AI-generated content (text, images)
- Use AI as a sparring partner during reviews
- Inform clients about AI usage
- Want to preserve your own design signature despite using AI
Principles
1. AI Is an Assistant, Not an Autopilot
You retain control. AI accelerates individual steps but replaces neither strategy nor judgment.
2. The Workflow Decides, Not the Tool
Define in advance which phases AI assists with and which it does not. Without a clear process, results are arbitrary.
3. Prompting Is Briefing
The same principles that apply to a good client briefing apply to AI: context, role, task, format, tone.
4. Combinatorial Strength, Conceptual Weakness
AI interpolates between known patterns (combinatorial creativity). The deliberate break with conventions comes from the human.
5. Transparency Toward Clients
Communicate openly where and how AI is used in the project. Concealed usage erodes trust.
6. Every AI Output Is a Draft
No AI output goes into production unchecked. Every result undergoes a human review.
Rules
DO: Deploy AI Purposefully per Design Phase
| Phase | AI Usage | Human Decides |
|---|
| Briefing | Analyze gaps and contradictions | Which questions are relevant |
| Research | Describe industry patterns, competition | Which insights are relevant |
| Personas | Sharpen assumptions, plausibility checks | Final persona definition |
| Concept | Moodboard variations, creative techniques | Which direction to pursue |
| Visual Design | Color palettes, font pairings, microcopy | Composition, consistency, final design |
| Review | Critical assessment, accessibility review | Whether feedback is implemented |
| Handoff | Documentation templates, style guide copy | Factual accuracy |
DO: Structure the Prompt Like a Briefing
An effective prompt contains 5 elements:
- Role: Who should the AI be? ("You are an experienced UX designer...")
- Context: Starting situation (project, industry, target audience)
- Task: What exactly should be done? (one task per prompt)
- Format: In what form? (list, table, prose)
- Constraints: What should NOT happen? (restrictions, style guidelines)
DO: Prompt Iteratively Instead of One-Shot
- START with a rough prompt, evaluate, refine.
- USE follow-up prompts: "Make it more formal," "Narrow it down to 3 variants," "Explain your choice."
- A chain of prompts is better than one perfect prompt.
DO: Use AI as a Sparring Partner in Reviews
- DESCRIBE a finished design in words and request a critical assessment.
- ASK about misunderstandings, unclear elements, accessibility barriers.
- The act of formulating the description alone often reveals weaknesses.
DO: Evaluate AI-Generated Images Based on Context
- Suitable: Abstract backgrounds, generic illustrations, concept visualizations.
- Unsuitable: Authentic corporate photography, portraits, brand-specific imagery.
- Communicate clearly to the client what is a placeholder and what is final material.
DON'T: Use AI as a Last Resort When Out of Ideas
- If all variations feel generic, the problem is a missing concept, not a better prompt.
- Go back to the strategy phase.
DON'T: Adopt AI Output Without Contextual Review
- AI has no knowledge of company history, market context, or customer sentiment.
- Validate every result against the briefing, brand, and target audience.
DON'T: Recycle Prompts Across Projects
- Using the same prompts across different projects leads to interchangeable results.
- Always adapt prompts to the project context.
DON'T: Use AI as a Substitute for User Testing
- AI generates hypotheses but does not simulate real reactions.
- Usability tests with real people remain mandatory.
Patterns
Briefing Analysis Prompt
At project kickoff: "Here is a project briefing for [project type]. Identify open questions, unclear requirements, and points that need to be clarified before starting." Result: Structured list of questions. See references/prompt-patterns.md for details and prompt templates.
Moodboard Divergence
Early concept phase: 1. Generate 15–20 variations with image generators, 2. Curate down to 2–3 directions, 3. Present as a decision-making basis.
SCAMPER Prompt Chain
For evolving existing ideas: AI examines an idea through each SCAMPER lens (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Reverse).
Copy Refinement Loop
For microcopy, button labels, error messages: 1. Describe context, tone, and function, 2. Generate 5 variations, 3. Select the best and refine.
AI Review Session
After visual design, before handoff: 1. Describe the design in detail using words, 2. Request a critical assessment regarding clarity, accessibility, and consistency, 3. Use the response as a checklist.
Documentation Accelerator
During the handoff phase: Describe design decisions and have a structured documentation template generated. Framework produced in minutes instead of hours.
Anti-Patterns
The AI Sameness Trap
All projects look alike because the same tools are used with similar prompts. Solution: Treat AI output as raw material, never as the final product. Your own design signature must remain recognizable.
The Prompt Perfectionist
Spending hours crafting the perfect prompt instead of working iteratively. Solution: Start with an 80% prompt, refine in 2–3 iterations.
AI as an Excuse for Lacking Expertise
"The AI did it that way" as a justification. Solution: Every decision must be defensible by the designer.
Hype-Driven Feature Adoption
Integrating every new AI feature immediately without evaluating its value. Solution: Evaluate in a test project before production use.
Checklist
Cross-References
design-process — The AI workflow is an extension, not a replacement for the design processcustomer-journey — AI can accelerate persona development and touchpoint analysislanding-pages — AI-generated text and images must meet landing page standardswebsite-audit — AI tools can support website analysisbranding-identity — AI output must align with brand identity
