Look, I’m not going to lie and say that I don’t use AI… in fact we ALL use AI on a daily basis. Are you saying “No!”? The fact that you’re on the internet, on social media or anything that uses an algorithm is essentially AI.  What I am getting at is the whole AI verses Art debate and specifically about graphic design.

I use AI to get me started in some aspects, in others I use it as a tool to create complex backgrounds to design work where the focus is on the foreground and not the background. A great example of this was for an Order of Service for a funeral where the deceased person loved Christmas, Dogs and Horses. I could have spent time crafting this oil painting masterpiece of this warm, fuzzy festive menagerie with Mr Ed and Lassie sat expectantly round the bauble strewn tree but this was a quick, more affordable project and I had to crack on with other bits. Also this was to sit being text, so was going to be 85% transparent (or set at 15% opacity if you’re a designer). So not many people would have really been looking at it, but the family would have loved the nod to they loved one.  

Just like this image here. I am writing a blog so I don’t want to be spending too much time on finding the right image, that is also royalty free, for a little bit of writing that not mane people are going to read… am I?

So the report from the World Economic Forum that came out in January that surveyed 1000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 countries and identified graphic design as the 11th fastest-declining job category over the next five years.

And there are no prizes for guessing the main culprit.

Yes, it’s AI, and this technology increases the capability to perform knowledge-based work, including creative tasks traditionally handled by human designers.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s recently tweeted that, “Soon, AI tools will do what only very talented humans can do today. (I expect this to go mostly in the counter-intuitive order–creative fields first, cognitive labour next, and physical labour last.) Great for society; not always great for individual jobs.”

In a linked tweet, he wrote: “Using artists as an example, when anyone can create amazing art, there will be incredible upside for humanity, but downside for most individual artists […] Artists will be much more productive and have new capabilities, but the barrier to entry will be much lower. And as the tools get better, ‘regular people’ will be able to do almost anything they want themselves.

“Eventually this will happen almost everywhere […] This transformation, while potentially beneficial for society at large, poses significant challenges for individual practitioners in the field.”

So there you have it. Both business leaders and the AI industry itself agree: AI is coming for your jobs, and no one is safe.

The Secret Weapon: Your Brain

Here’s the cool part: Graphic design was never just about being a whiz with Photoshop. It’s always been about creative thinking and solving problems. And guess what? Humans are still way better at that than any AI.

Employers rated AI’s creative-thinking skills as “meh” at best, and they think creativity is one of the most important skills for the future. So while AI can probably handle the boring, repetitive parts of a design job, your brilliant, one-of-a-kind ideas are still your superpower.

But a quick reality check: while AI might not be a creative genius, it’s getting pretty good at the technical side of things, like executing designs. This means you’ll need to double down on your unique creative abilities and let the robots handle the more mundane tasks.

It’s Not Just Designers

Let’s be real, this isn’t just a design-world problem. This whole AI thing is going to change pretty much every job out there. According to the report, the future of work will be a mix of humans, tech, and a whole lot of teamwork.

Some companies plan to move people to new roles as AI takes over old ones, but others are thinking about cutting jobs. This means we all—not just designers—need to stay on our toes, learn new skills, and be ready to adapt.

How to Future-Proof Your Career

So, what’s a designer to do? Instead of freaking out, here’s how you can get ahead of the curve:

• Learn UI/UX: This is where the jobs are, so get on board!

• Flex Your Creative Muscles: Focus on strengthening the skills that AI can’t replicate—your imagination, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

• Befriend the Robots: Learn to use AI tools as your sidekicks, not your competition.

• Specialize: Find a niche where human creativity is absolutely essential.

• Think Green: Check out new fields like sustainable design and green technology, where there’s a ton of new opportunity.

The bottom line? The design world isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving. The old-school jobs might fade, but new and exciting ones are popping up where design, tech, and sustainability meet. Your success will depend on your willingness to learn, adapt, and use your unique human creativity to its full potential.

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