The atmosphere was electric: young designers, developers, founders, and product specialists, all eager to discuss the future of design.My presentation, titled “Beyond the Hype Around AI Design and Vibe Coding: What Will Be Left for Designers?”, was a reaction to the growing noise in our field. With AI tools automating more and more tasks and “vibe coding” spreading superficial aesthetics at scale, it’s tempting to believe that design is reduced to prompts and presets. But I argued that, even as superficial production becomes easier, taste, context, and systemic thinking remain out of reach for automation.
Here are some of the main ideas I shared:
AI makes us faster, but not necessarily better. Designing flows, layouts, even visual directions has never been easier — but taste remains rare. Tools don’t decide what should be done, only what can be done.
Design as a decision-making process, not just an outcome. AI doesn’t replace the hard part of design: prioritizing trade-offs, aligning with business goals, understanding people. Good design remains a strategic job.
“Vibe coding” is fun, but fleeting. We see a lot of beautiful but superficial work. The designers who will stand out are those who build systems, not just “dribbles.”
Value is shifting toward synthesis. Designers who can connect user input, business, tech, and AI into coherent directions will have the advantage. Curation is design.
There’s a return to detail and aesthetic ambition after ten years of flat design and minimalism dominating.
What truly enriched the event wasn’t just the presentation, but the conversation that followed. I had deep exchanges with people who only knew my work online. Some challenged my views. Others shared their own experiences with AI tools. But everyone seemed to agree on one point: this is a strange and exciting time for our field, and no one really knows where it’s heading.
A big thank you to Guidione Machava and Paul Menant for organizing, and to all the participants. Events like this remind me that the design community remains strong, thoughtful, and ready to ask the hard questions. That’s what will endure.
About me
Hey, I’m François Savard from END Agency
I design clear, functional products that cut friction and remove unnecessary decisions. END Space is my newsletter where I share ideas, trends, and what I’m working on.
🌉 Background: Creative Director in a digital marketing agency in Norway for 5 years, moved back to France to create END Agency.
🏄🏼♂️ Current focus: Build a community to connect designers and founders with END Space (the newsletter you just read).
🙈 Next goal: Organise future conferences about design, in France and abroad. Interested to join or co-host? Reach out to me.