How AI tools and technologies are transforming modern design through automation, personalisation and creative innovation
Midhun Dev, Design Lead, CMR University
AI is transforming the design world by automating repetitive tasks, enabling rapid ideation and streamlining workflows. This shift allows designers to focus more on strategy, storytelling and creativity rather than spending time on routine production tasks.
Tools like Adobe Sensei and Canva’s Magic Resize, for example, automate editing and resizing, dramatically reducing the time needed to create assets across platforms. Similarly, AI-driven platforms such as Looka and DALL·E generate logos and illustrations from simple text prompts, opening new avenues for experimentation and visual storytelling.
AI tools transforming modern design workflows
Several AI-powered platforms are at the forefront of this creative transformation. Here are a few driving the shift:
Canva: With its intuitive interface, Canva uses AI to suggest design improvements, resize graphics and remove backgrounds. Its features are accessible to both professionals and beginners, enabling fast, collaborative content creation.
Adobe Sensei: Embedded across Adobe’s tools, Sensei automates tasks such as intelligent cropping and content-aware fill. It also offers data-driven layout and colour recommendations, helping designers make informed creative decisions.
Runway ML: This tool gives creators access to machine learning models for video and image editing, making advanced visual effects more approachable.
Creatie: Built for UI/UX professionals, Creatie offers AI-based layout suggestions, automatic style guide generation and real-time design audits, accelerating prototyping while ensuring brand consistency.
DeepArt.io and DALL·E: These generative AI platforms convert text and image inputs into original art, allowing designers to explore fresh visual languages and concepts quickly.
Emerging trends in AI and design
Generative design and personalisation
Generative AI is reshaping how designers visualise and personalise experiences. Tools like Midjourney and DALL·E can transform abstract concepts into distinct visual narratives. Brands like Netflix are already using AI to dynamically personalise artwork and banners, improving engagement by aligning visuals with user preferences.
Automation and enhanced efficiency
AI is automating tedious tasks such as grid alignment, file cleanup and asset resizing. This significantly reduces design turnaround time. Adobe Sensei and Canva exemplify how AI enhances efficiency without compromising creative control.
Data-driven design decisions
AI-powered analytics are helping designers predict trends, understand user behaviour and improve layout performance. These insights allow teams to optimise designs for higher engagement and better conversion rates.
Collaborative and accessible design
AI tools are democratising design. Platforms like Canva and Creatie enable non-designers to contribute meaningfully, while shared libraries and templates help teams maintain consistency across projects. This accessibility supports agile, collaborative workflows.
Sustainable and ethical design
AI can also support sustainability by optimising resource use and reducing redundancy in workflows. By automating processes and minimising waste, designers are better positioned to focus on creating responsible and lasting digital products.
What the future holds for AI and design
AI will continue to play a central role in shaping how we design, collaborate and innovate. As AI capabilities grow, tools will offer more intuitive generative features, deeper personalisation options and even more advanced automation.
Rather than replacing designers, AI is augmenting their capabilities, offering intelligent suggestions, speeding up execution and providing inspiration. This allows creative professionals to focus on what truly matters: crafting experiences that are original, human-centred and impactful.
As we move forward, the convergence of AI and design will unlock new possibilities for storytelling, branding and innovation. For designers, this is not just a technological shift; it’s an invitation to push boundaries and reimagine what creativity can achieve.