My Minimalist Experiment: How AI Changed My Design Workflow

The design world feels loud right now.

AI will replace designers.
AI will create chaos.
AI is the future.

I chose not to argue.
I chose to test.

I’m an engineer by education. I value structure.
And I was curious:

Can AI help me create calmer, cleaner design — not louder?

My Workflow Before AI
1. Research
2. Moodboard
3. Sketch
4. Wireframe
5. Visual design
6. Testing

It took 3–5 days per concept.

Most of the time was spent on:
• searching for direction
• rewriting copy
• endless small iterations

What I Changed

I integrated AI into specific stages.

Research

I used Perplexity AI to scan minimal UI trends.
Result: structured summaries in 30 minutes instead of hours.

Wireframing

I tested Uizard for early interface drafts.
Fast. Clean. Slightly generic.

Visual Mood

I used Midjourney for atmosphere generation.
Beautiful — but often too dramatic.

To maintain minimalism, I simplified prompts and reduced visual noise.

AI likes drama.
I prefer silence.

What Actually Changed

• Workflow reduced from 4 days to 2
• Faster exploration
• Higher risk of generic output

AI generates options.
I make decisions.

What AI Cannot Replace

It doesn’t feel:
• breathing space
• emotional tone
• brand nuance
• subtle balance

AI generates.
Designers curate.

Final Thought

AI doesn’t improve design.

It amplifies structure — or chaos.

The difference depends on you.

If you’re building with AI —
are you collaborating with it, or competing?