Figma CEO says AI makes creative voice and taste more important

In short: Figma CEO Dylan Field says AI is making basic design and writing easier, which makes human taste and a clear creative voice more valuable.

What's going on

Dylan Field, the chief executive of Figma, said, “I think if you have a creative voice in writing or design, you put yourself out there and you take a risk, this is a good time to do that.” He has been repeating a similar message in interviews and talks since Figma went public.

His main point is that AI tools can now produce decent first drafts quickly. That can include screens for an app, simple illustrations, or starter text. When many people can get to “good enough” results, Field argues that the thing that stands out is taste, meaning your judgment about what looks right, what fits the story, and what feels consistent.

Field has described “taste” and “point of view” as a kind of protection for designers, like a signature style that is hard to copy. In this view, AI is more like a power tool than a substitute worker. It can speed up trying lots of options, but a person still needs to choose what to keep, what to reject, and how everything fits the brand or product.

What to watch

If more teams use AI in their daily work, the job may shift toward editing and directing rather than only making things from scratch. That could reward people who are willing to show their process in public and take feedback, even when the work is still messy.

Source: NYTimes