Your startup doesn’t need a designer… or does it?
With today’s tools (Framer AI, Wix AI, Claude structuring pages, etc.), you can have a live website in 10 minutes.
But here’s the thing: having a website is not the same as having a website that works.
And when we say "works", what do we actually mean? We mean a site that helps you reach a specific goal.
Sure — if your goal is just to make sales, an AI-built site might get the job done.
But what if your goal is for users to truly identify with the product they’re buying and using?
That’s where a designer makes the difference.
⚙️ What AI does well:
- Launch fast with zero code
- Create solid page structures
- Save time on technical stuff
But…
🚧 What AI still struggles with:
- Capturing the soul of your project
- Truly connecting with your users
- Crafting a unique, consistent identity
I’ve redesigned quite a few AI-generated sites where the design was "okay", but the message felt empty. Like clones of clones.
🎯 So… do you need a designer?
Not always. But if you’re aiming to create something with personality — something that speaks your users’ language and doesn’t look like just another landing page — then maybe you do.
🧪 What combos I see working best:
- No-Code + AI → great for founders who need to move fast, then refine later
- Figma + Dev → ideal if you’ve got strong vision or branding in place
- Designer + AI + No-Code → best of both worlds: AI assists, but there's human direction
🤔 What about you?
- Are you using AI to design your site? Has it worked for you?
- Do you feel like something gets lost in the process — or are you happy with how automated it all is?
I see it the same way.. If you want to have personality in the product, you need to do some reasoning yourself. For me the way to go is, that i brainstorm with AI but see it as a colleague.. then if i start designing and need some new Input i still look what other companies does and what works the best. At the Coding/No-Coding phase, I will always use AI as a mentor who helps with everything i dont know..
For me personally it is the only way to get at least a bit of soul into a design and website.. The thing is though, that probably 80% of the users wont really see the difference, as they are used to the patterns of websites, that AI uses and will be fine with anything that looks similar. They won't even recognize that its AI-design.
Love how you put it, treating AI like a colleague or mentor is such a grounded approach. I totally agree: it's in how we use it that some soul can sneak into the design.
And yeah, maybe most users won’t consciously notice the difference... but I do think they feel it. The subtle cues, the clarity, the vibe... it all adds up, even if it’s not obvious.
Feeling this post! it hits so close to home. We’ve been building GudSho (a video marketing platform), and yeah, AI tools like Framer and Claude have made it insanely easy to launch. But like you said, launching isn’t the same as actually connecting.
It’s the human touch, the intentional design, the tone, the emotion, that connects with people. Cheers!
Thanks so much! Totally agree, what you’re building with GudSho sounds awesome. And yeah, I think that’s the sweet spot: combining these AI tools with intention and emotional clarity. Would love to see how you guys are tackling that balance on your end!
I agree with you. A human is still needed to capture the essence of the project!