Design Executive Council Podcast Design Jobs in Evolution: Understanding the Pressure Points Facing Design Teams
9 snips
Apr 21, 2025 Kaaren Hanson, a design leader known for her insights on team dynamics, and Benedikt Lehnert, a tech and design expert, explore the evolving landscape of design careers. They discuss the pressure on mid-level roles as expectations increase beyond execution to strategic impact. The rise of AI is reshaping required skills, with younger designers thriving on new tools while seniors adapt. The conversation also touches on the importance of customer-centric design and how organizations must innovate to stay relevant in a fast-paced market.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Evolving Skillset for Designers
- Design jobs will shift from niche tool mastery to holistic creation with emerging tools like AI and 3D modeling.
- New designers need skills blending creative ideation with technical output across diverse formats beyond Figma.
Junior Designers Should Experiment
- Junior designers will still use traditional tools like Figma due to existing company systems.
- Early adopters will be startups, giving others time to experiment and upskill with new tools.
Pressure on Mid-Level Designers
- Mid-level design roles face pressure; some process-heavy roles may be automated or eliminated.
- Senior designers focus more on strategic thinking, people skills, and systems-oriented work involving service design.