State of AI in Design

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Hey, it’s Kushagra. Welcome to this week’s AtlasMoth drop.

Hope the week’s been kind.

This one’s all about AI in design, the thrill, the stalls, and why it still feels more like a sidekick than a soul mate.

Designers love to tap, play, and poke. But stay? Nah. Not yet. They want proof it’s more than hype.

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Currently, no single tool feels like “this is the way.” Most still lean on ChatGPT or Claude. Few dive into tools built just for design.

Why so slow?

• Split vibes: notes here, files there, chats lost, no one flow.

• New grind: fresh tool = long learn curve.

• Mid takes: AI drops flop, fix eats time.

• Safe fear: Big firms guard data. Trust low.

“Tools swap fast. Feels like school, not work.”

Where They See Glow

🔥 Spark ideas - AI as hype mate. Toss wild thoughts, no rule book.
⚡ Kill dull - resize, tweak, push files. Free hands for fun work.
💬 Talk clearly - bridge crew: design to dev, dev to boss.

What’s Next

• Slide in smoothly, no break in flow.

• Stay sharp so peeps trust the out.

• Keep it safe so teams chill on data.

• Link roles, not split them.

Till then? AI = test bud, not ride-or-die.

The Big Picture

Lines blur fast: design, product, engineering. What wins now? Human vibe. Not “can we make it?” but “should we?”

In a world of mid design, the real edge = human touch.
- Steve Vassallo, Foundation Capital

Humans Rule

AI can open doors. But risk = “AI slop.” Same looks, same feels, no soul.

What humans bring:
✨Fresh takes
❤️Real feels
🎭Vibe + soul

AI helps. But human-led work = true glow.

Startups are leading the AI charge, with 52% of early-stage firms diving in compared to 23% of public companies and 21% of growth-stage firms, showing how moving fast without red tape gives them an edge.

But AI today still feels like solo mode; designers struggle with no shared view, split tools, and lost sync, making collaboration harder.

Learning is mostly grassroots, not top-down: 96% are self-taught, 41% learn via socials, 23% through peers, 17% from external courses, and only 7% get in-house training.

Clear signal companies need to back DIY learning with the right tools, safe spaces, and room to play.

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Gaps & Shots

✅ Most tools stop at hire. Few help long game.
✅ Fun vibe ends at pre-hire. Post-hire is wide open.
✅ No mix of AI + game + culture in one.
✅ Few white-label plays. Big chance.

Price Bench

• Base AI hire tools: $5–15 per hire OR $300–600 per seat/mo

• Big game tools: $20K–100K / yr

• SMB tools: $100–1K / mo

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Your Spot

USP: AI + game + culture fit that lasts past hire.

Price vibe:

• SMB: $199–499 / mo

• Big biz: $2K–10K / mo

Edge: Not just hire. Boost the crew after they join.

Wrap It Up

AI in design is still a sidekick, not the hero. Cool for Sparks, mid on trust.

The real win?

Blend smooth flow, safe space, and human touch. Till then, it’s play mode, not ride-or-die.