Is Craft Still the Champion for Designers?

There’s something poetic about the way history echoes. Just like artisans in the industrial revolution who watched machines take over, designers today are seeing AI step in where human hands used to reign supreme. But here’s the burning question: Is craft still the champion, or are we witnessing its slow extinction?

As AI tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Adobe Firefly become everyday staples, the roles that once felt untouchable—Junior, Mid-weight, even Senior designers—are now being reshaped. Design Directors find themselves moving from guiding creators to managing algorithms, and seasoned designers are grappling with how to stay relevant in an industry that’s speeding ahead.

So, what does all this mean for the future of craft in design? Let’s dive in.

1. Junior and Mid-Weight Designers: An Endangered Role?

It’s 2025, and if you’re a Junior designer, it’s impossible to ignore the reality that AI is doing a lot of what used to be your job. The tasks that once filled your day—mockups, resizing images, adjusting colours—are now accomplished by AI with a speed and accuracy that humans simply can’t compete with. It’s not just about cost-cutting for agencies and clients; it’s about efficiency. Why have a Junior designer spend hours on iterations when AI can produce dozens of variations in seconds?

And here’s the real kicker: without these foundational tasks, how do you grow? Junior designers are supposed to hone their skills through this work, but if AI handles the “grunt work,” where’s the room for learning? It’s not just about the current state of the job market—it’s about the future. The path from Junior to Senior roles is starting to look unsteady, and without those years spent developing craft, we have to wonder—where will the next generation of Senior designers come from?

In this shifting landscape, Junior and Mid-weight roles aren’t just at risk; they’re evolving. But what does this mean for the future of craft? If AI takes on the foundational tasks, will we still have the craftsmanship that defines great design, or will it be eroded?

2. Design Directors: Navigating the AI Era

For Design Directors, the ground is shifting too. Traditionally, their role was to mentor, refine creative visions, and guide teams through the process of learning the craft. But now, as AI generates vast amounts of creative output with the push of a button, the role of the Director is changing into something much more about curation than creation.

Instead of teaching Junior designers the intricacies of craft, Directors are teaching them how to manage AI tools. It’s no longer about how to nail the perfect layout—it’s about how to prompt AI to give you the best starting point. The Director’s job has evolved into AI oversight, prompt engineering, and quality control. Rather than crafting each detail by hand, they are now curators of AI-generated work, making sure it aligns with brand standards and hits the right notes.

While this evolution might seem like a natural progression, it distances the Director from the hands-on process that used to define their role. The job now revolves around orchestrating AI outputs, and with less time spent crafting, it begs the question: Are we moving too far from the art of design?

3. The Resilience of Craft: A Pushback Against Automation

But let’s not sound the death knell for craft just yet. Designers have always adapted to new tools, whether it was the transition to digital design in the ’80s and ’90s or the rise of UI/UX in the last decade. The thing about AI, though, is that it’s not just another tool—it has the potential to replace the very human touch we pride ourselves on.

Still, many designers are fighting back. They’re doubling down on what makes design truly special: the human ability to connect, to tell stories, and to take creative risks. Yes, AI can generate stunning visuals, but it lacks the deeper understanding of context, emotion, and cultural nuance that defines great design. Craft is more than just the final product—it’s the process, the intuition, the unexpected turns that lead to something truly unique.

In areas like human-centred design, where empathy and emotional storytelling reign supreme, AI simply can’t compete. Craft is also crucial in developing distinct brand identities that go beyond templates and formulas. And while AI is great at generating multiple versions of something, it can’t take the creative risks that often lead to breakthroughs.

This resurgence of interest in craft is proof that, while AI might take over some tasks, it will never replace the core of what we do as designers. There’s a reason we still need human intuition in the creative process.

4. The Unrelenting Pursuit of Relevance: How Long Can We Keep Up?

Here’s where things get tricky: designers today are under more pressure than ever to constantly reinvent themselves. Staying on top of the latest design trends has always been part of the job, but now, we also need to be proficient in AI tools, data analysis, and even coding. The role of the designer is expanding rapidly, and with it, the demands of the job.

This relentless pursuit of relevance can be exhausting. Designers are expected to not only master traditional craft but also become tech-savvy enough to command AI, all while staying creatively inspired. It’s a tall order. And as AI advances, even highly skilled designers run the risk of being left behind if they don’t keep up. The constant need to learn new tools and adapt to new processes can lead to burnout.

There’s a real question here: Is this pace sustainable? Historically, we’ve seen industries transformed by technology, with workers left behind when they couldn’t keep up with the scale and speed of mechanisation. Designers today are facing a similar dilemma, and while many are rising to the challenge, it’s unclear how long we can keep running at this pace without hitting a wall.

5. Are We Heading Towards an Industrial Revolution 2.0?

Looking at the parallels between today’s design industry and the Industrial Revolution, it’s hard not to see the writing on the wall. Back then, machines replaced manual labourers. Today, AI is replacing creative labour. The choice for designers is stark: adapt, or risk becoming obsolete.

But here’s the difference: we have a chance to shape the future of our craft. Instead of letting AI take over, we can use it to free ourselves from the mundane tasks, giving us more space to focus on what makes design uniquely human. We can let AI handle the repetitive work while we concentrate on empathy, storytelling, and creativity—the things that machines can’t replicate.

The future of craft in design isn’t a foregone conclusion. It hinges on our ability to balance automation with authenticity. If we can harness AI without losing the human touch, we might just avoid the fate of the artisans who came before us.

So, Is Craft Still the Champion for Designers?

Yes, but it’s facing some fierce competition. AI is reshaping the design landscape, especially for Junior and Mid-weight roles, and Design Directors are finding themselves in unfamiliar territory as curators of AI work. The path to creative mastery is changing, and designers are under immense pressure to keep up.

But despite all this, craft still holds its ground in one essential way: the human touch. No matter how fast or efficient AI becomes, it will never be able to replicate the empathy, nuance, and originality that only human designers can bring. AI may take over certain tasks, but it won’t replace the heart of design—as long as we keep fighting to preserve what makes our work truly human. Craft is under siege, but it’s still the soul of design. And as long as we stay committed to that artistry, it can remain the champion of our industry.