Thoughts on taste, skeuomorphism, and AI
Three unrelated thoughts I had this week:
1. Replit/Lovable/Cursor are incredibly hard to use for visual changes
This is how it feels to use Replit/Lovable/v0/Bolt/Cursor as a designer:
These tools are amazing, but often it takes longer to adjust the visuals than to build the functionality.
Chat isn't the right interface for changing spacing, grid, or layout. I assume (and hope) it's just a matter of time before they launch better design editors.
2. Visual skeuomorphism is easier with AI
One reason flat design took off: it lowered the barrier to creating apps. UI design was hard, making a mobile app icon was practically an art form.
More people in the world are capable of designing an icon on the right than on the left:
Now that AI makes complex visuals easier, theoretically, it's easier for skeuomorphism (or the “3D style” of it) to be brought back.
3. Taste as designers’ edge
Designers hope taste will stay their edge in the future. Mainly because it keeps them in their comfort zone.
It's easier to keep focusing on pixels than face KPIs, OKRs, people, and politics.