Designing with AI: Speed is up. Are solutions?

When it comes to designing with artificial intelligence (AI), speed doesn’t necessarily equate to progress. That’s exactly what Lou Rosenfeld, Principal of Rosenfeld Media, and Dr. Llewyn Paine, curator of the Designing with AI conference, discuss on the Insights Unlocked podcast by UserTesting.

In this podcast episode, Lou and Llewyn sit down with Lisa Hojan to talk about what the future of design looks like with the addition of the innovation of AI. Spoiler: The speed that comes with AI is beginning to seem more dangerous than helpful.

So, how should designers go about using AI in their workflows? This is exactly why the Designing with AI conference was founded, and what this podcast episode aims to scratch the surface of. Here are some ideas from Lou and Llewyn:

Balance speed and efficiency with creativity, craft, and intention

Tension has been at the forefront of the AI conversation for every year #DwAI has been around. When talking about productivity and speed versus quality and craft, it’s important to come to the conversation equipped with evidence, which is exactly what the speakers at the Designing with AI conference will address.

There’s lots of different goals int he industry right now: speed, efficiency, quality, craft. But how can we be intentional about the design process and balance these competing priorities? Llewyn argues that this question is critical for designers utilizing or arguing against AI.

Shift the role of designers from makers to orchestrators

The shift of the UXer’s role is palpable. In the past, we asked “How can I make this human user’s task easier?” and came up with solutions that involved refining the human-to-computer interface. But today, users send AI agents to complete their tasks and make their lives easier. So, designers aren’t just making lives easier, they’re now orchestrating the human-to-agent-to-computer interaction, and streamlining that interface.

Consider AI agents as both users and collaborators

The shift of the designer role comes with it the shift in user base. Our users and collaborators aren’t just people; they’re robots (we’re truly living in the future!)

How do we run teams and serve customers when they’re not fully made up of humans? The transformation of the design process is only part of that answer. Lou posits that perhaps we should be less hierarchal as we conduct this massive shift.

Q&A

Inspired by this podcast epsiode

How is AI changing UX design?

AI is changing UX design by speeding up research, ideation, and prototyping while also raising new questions about quality, trust, and human judgment. The bigger shift is not just faster work, but a new way of thinking about how design teams solve problems.

What does “speed is up” mean for design teams?

It means design teams can move from idea to output much faster than before, often with AI helping generate options, summaries, or starting points. The challenge is making sure that increased speed does not reduce rigor, clarity, or strategic thinking.

What are the risks of using AI in design?

The main risks include shallow solutions, overreliance on automated outputs, and a false sense that speed equals quality. AI can help teams work more efficiently, but it still needs human review, context, and decision-making.

How should designers think about AI-generated solutions?

Designers should treat AI-generated work as a starting point, not a finished answer. Good design still depends on framing the right problem, evaluating tradeoffs, and making sure solutions fit real user needs.

What role does human judgment still play?

Human judgment is essential for deciding what matters, what works, and what should be rejected. AI can accelerate parts of the process, but designers are still needed to interpret context, make ethical choices, and shape the final experience.

How should teams adapt their workflows for AI?

Teams should build workflows that use AI where it adds value, while keeping clear review steps and accountability. That usually means combining automation with critique, collaboration, and strong design standards.

Why is this topic important for product and design leaders?

It matters because AI is changing how teams allocate time, define quality, and measure progress. Leaders need to understand both the efficiency gains and the strategic risks so they can guide their teams well.

What should organizations focus on as AI becomes more common?

Organizations should focus on problem framing, decision quality, and maintaining a strong design process. The goal is not just to produce more work, but to produce better work with AI as a support tool.

About the guests

Lou Rosenfeld is Rosenfeld Media’s founder and publisher. Like many user experience folk, Lou started somewhere (library science), made his way somewhere else (information architecture), and has ended up in an entirely different place (publishing and conference curation). Lou spent much of his career in information architecture consulting, first as founder of the groundbreaking IA agency Argus Associates and later as an independent consultant, helping clients like Ford, Paypal, Caterpillar, and the CDC untangle their information problems.

Dr. Llewyn Paine is an AI consultant and product strategist with over 15 years’ experience in emerging tech innovation–from intelligent agents and physical AI at Microsoft, to experimental media for Disney. She was the curator of Rosenfeld Media’s 2025 Designing with AI conference and has spoken on responsible AI for research at the Library of Congress and other leading institutions. Her best-selling workshops have been called a “voice of reason check on AI hype”–helping product leaders and teams make defensible, strategic decisions about AI.

Learn more about the topics discussed in this podcast episode by securing your spot at the live online Designing with AI conference, taking place June 9-10, 2026.