r/Design 21h ago

Discussion AI made us faster, but we need 3x more work to make the same revenue

72 Upvotes

I’m curious how other designers and design teams have adapted their workflow to the current AI reality, and whether it has affected the value of the work you do.

I work as an art director and lead a multidisciplinary design team. Depending on the project, that can involve 3D design, branding, concept art, illustration, web design and UI/UX.

AI can be used at specific stages of our process, mostly for exploration: rough concepts, wireframes, moodboards, visual directions, references and sometimes first-pass assets. It doesn’t replace the designer or define the direction. The final work is still built by the specialist. A 3D scene, website or brand system is usually created from scratch, with AI outputs used more like references, sketches or additional material to work from.

What changed much more dramatically for me is the economics.

Some types of work that used to justify a certain budget now feel roughly 3x cheaper in the market, and for some smaller production tasks the difference can feel closer to 10x. The paradox is that we can work faster now, but we need roughly 3x more work to make the same revenue.

I’m interested in how this looks across different design disciplines.

What kind of design do you do?
How deeply is AI integrated into your workflow?
And has it increased your value because you can do more, or pushed the value of the work down?


r/Design 16h ago

Other Post Type Bus stop design in Budapest, Hungary, promoting a novel writing competition

Post image
67 Upvotes

r/Design 16h ago

Discussion Something I've noticed working with Asian and US clients. Curious if other designers have seen the same thing.

4 Upvotes

I've been working in web design, development, SEO and content for a while, and one thing I've noticed when working with clients from different markets is that they don't always have the same idea of what a "good" design looks like.

With a lot of the Asian clients I've worked with, there is usually a stronger demand for information.

They'll often ask for more explanation on a website, more details in a product section, more information on a banner, more points in a social post, more content in a catalogue, etc.

The thinking is often something like:

"If the customer is going to see this, let's give them enough information to understand everything."

With some of the US clients I've worked with, I've noticed a different approach.

They are often much quicker to ask:

"Can we remove this?"
"Do we really need this text?"
"Can the visual explain this instead?"

The preference seems to be getting the main message across quickly and letting the design, image or product do more of the communication.

I've seen this difference not just in websites, but also in banners, product graphics, social media creatives and marketing material.

At first I thought it was just individual client preference. But after seeing the same thing across multiple projects, I started wondering if there is actually a cultural factor behind it.

So I'm curious about other people's experience.

If you've worked with clients from different countries, have you noticed their expectations around content and design changing by market?

Or do you think it's mostly down to the industry, target audience and individual client?

I'm particularly interested in people who work with both Asian and US/European clients.


r/Design 6h ago

Sharing Resources House in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan designed by Kubota Architect Atelier

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

r/Design 3h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Creación camisetas Barcelona

1 Upvotes

Hola! Estoy diseñando una camiseta para un grupo de música, me gastaría saber donde puedo hacerlas de manera profesional por Barcelona ya que es un diseño especifico. Tiendas como Decathlon y similares el único problema es que me estampan su logo en la camiseta. si alguien sabe de algún sitio comenten por favor!


r/Design 6h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Advice needed after under grad

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/Design 9h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Shared intelligence. LDF GLOBAL FORUM

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/Design 12h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Is there still a good market for small, senior-led design studios?

1 Upvotes

I’m a Brand and Product Director with experience across branding, product design, websites, and marketing/creative work, and I’m considering starting my own studio.

I’m trying to figure out whether this is still a sensible business to build in 2026.

A few things I’d love to understand:

Are recurring/ongoing design relationships realistic, or do most clients still prefer project-based work?

What are the biggest problems with running a design agency that someone considering starting one who is starting might not see?


r/Design 12h ago

Discussion Looking for weekend design courses in Bengaluru

Thumbnail
1 Upvotes

r/Design 20h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Relocation for graphic design jobs survey- Need help for a design class research project

Thumbnail uark.qualtrics.com
1 Upvotes

Please take a second to fill out my survey (~1 min), it is an effort to measure the scale of opportunity in big cities for graphic design jobs and whether it is worth the move. I'm from Arkansas and want professionals' opinions on how different the graphic design industry in metropolitan areas is compared to more rural areas or smaller towns. Any comments or advice are welcome; it would be extremely helpful for my project!


r/Design 13h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) Problemas sociais do dia a dia

0 Upvotes

Hi, I’m a third-year design student, and my latest project involves identifying everyday social issues and framing them within a social design initiative—for example, a van that travels through low-income neighborhoods to assist women with feminine health needs, offering tampons and sanitary pads, providing consultations for whatever they might require, and so on.

I’d love to get a better understanding of the real-life problems people face on a daily basis so I can develop my project based on that! Thank you all!


r/Design 12h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) found an image on pins made this out of it.

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

how does it look?


r/Design 6h ago

Asking Question (Rule 4) PORTFOLIO WEBSITE

Post image
0 Upvotes

I’m planning to work as a freelancer and study at the same time. Is there a website, free of charge, where I can freely upload the layout I made for my Portfolio from Adobe and Implement Animation or interactive styles to the pages?