Radar Analysis of AI Impact Across Design Functions
Tasks involving creating specifications, technical documentation, and structured outputs are most vulnerable to AI augmentation. A junior designer with AI tools could produce work matching experienced specialists.
Research synthesis, pattern recognition, and competitive analysis show high AI exposure. These traditionally expert-level skills can now be significantly augmented.
Facilitation, collaboration, and stakeholder management remain deeply human. Trust-building, reading rooms, and navigating organizational politics resist automation.
Ideation shows split exposure—divergent generation is AI-augmentable, but synthesis and judgment remain human-dependent. Frame innovation stays protected.