Today's design workflow looks like 2005

The current design workflow reminds me of how we worked 20 years ago.

Back then, we used Photoshop, a photo editing app, to design interfaces. We used Flash, an animation app, to build websites.

Now we’re using Terminal and IDEs like Cursor and VSCode to design.

In both cases, we use tools that were not intended for designers but ended up being the best way to do our work. Then and now, the high friction of bending non-design tools to design work is worth the gain in output.

However, while designers always put so much focus on their tools, tools were never the long-term edge for designers.Shreyas Doshi writes:

Tools have never been a significant source of alpha in product success and that is not changing with AI tools.

The same is true for design. In the long term, everybody switches from Photoshop to Sketch, from Sketch to Figma, and so on.

Eventually, everyone will catch up, even with the AI tools.

Zoom out, and you’ll see that your advantage was always in your judgement, agency, and ability to work well with other people – never in tools.

If you’re enjoying my writing, check out my books.