Design is changing fast. At Indeed, UXers are leading efforts to codify the context of design, content, and code so LLMs can effectively represent our design language. When we identified gaps in prototyping tooling, we took the initiative to build a better way. We're out in front, shaping how the company designs and builds with AI in a way that still feels uniquely "UX".
Jenny Wen, who leads design at Anthropic, describes similar shifts on a recent Lenny podcast: the traditional design loop breaking down, design splitting into execution support and short-range visioning, work moving closer to code.
In both cases, designers are solving specific problems within their organizations rather than adopting a universal new design approach. This is where UXers shine—people who understand systems, human behavior, and can identify patterns are well-positioned to understand what's needed and drive these discussions.
That's not just true for UX. Subject matter expertise in your field positions you to identify where AI can help solve real problems—if you're willing to participate. Across disciplines, people actively shaping this change are having a fundamentally different experience than those waiting to see what happens.
Matt Shumer's piece about how everything is about to change has been a topic of discussion over the past few weeks. It's urgent and alarming. He's right that the pace is accelerating faster than most realize. But there's something critical missing from his message: the future is unwritten, and we have agency to shape it by participating.
Jenny Wen noted that early-career designers, without legacy processes or deeply ingrained ways of working, are often more adaptable and open to figuring out new approaches.
This isn't solely something new designers can embrace. There's a divide: people who feel AI is happening to them tend to lose hope and motivation, clinging to how things are "meant" to be done. Meanwhile, people letting go of how they used to work, imagining something different, and embracing the ride with intention and curiosity are thriving in their work and emotional state. Participation leads to success, which creates energy, which fuels more participation. A virtuous cycle.
What does participation look like?
- Being curious and open—going with the flow while determining where you're uniquely positioned to add value
- Not being afraid to take up space and lead where you might not have led before
- Running experiments with peers, sharing what does and doesn't work
- Staying oriented on problems and user needs, acknowledging the path to solutions might look different
- Playing in adjacent disciplines
- Exploring ways AI solves things important to your work, not forcing it where it doesn't make sense
Matt's right that this is urgent. But the answer isn't just preparation—it's active engagement. We're co-authors of what comes next.
What are you seeing? How are you participating?
