If you've read How I Use AI as a Design Tool, you already know where I stand on AI in the design industry — and I have a lot more to say on the economic side of things in an upcoming post. But "it's just a tool" isn't specific enough to be useful — because what that tool does for you depends entirely on where you are in your career. A hammer means something different in the hands of someone framing a house for the first time and someone who's been building for twenty years. Same tool, completely different relationship.

One year ago today, I was laid off from Vernier Science Education. I've thought about how to write that sentence for a while. Whether to soften it, contextualize it, lead with something else. But it's the fact at the center of this post, and it deserves to just be said.

I applied for a job on Friday, May 25th. Not a design job.

After months of sending applications into what feels like a void — portfolios reviewed, maybe a screening call here and there, but rarely anything that turns into a real conversation — I made a decision.

My case studies were good. They were detailed, well-structured, and told the story of each project clearly. The problem was they didn't talk to each other — and nobody could see the thread connecting them.

Most designers today learned on a screen. They've built beautiful things — websites, apps, interfaces — and never once held a physical proof in their hands. That's not a criticism. It's just the shape of the industry over the last decade.

Most designers treat the 404 page like a utility closet — functional, forgettable, and definitely not worth decorating. I used to agree. Then I met Dr. Pete, and everything changed.

The conversation around AI in design tends to collapse into one of two extremes: it's either going to replace us all, or it's a gimmick not worth your time. I've landed somewhere in the middle — which is where most useful tools actually live.