AI and the New Design Mindset

Hi there, I’ve been mulling over some fascinating insights from recent industry updates, especially a thought-provoking piece by Jeremy Utley on AI leadership. It’s incredible to see how even big-league boards are just beginning to grapple with the impact of AI on decision-making and strategy. Leaders admitted they rarely use AI themselves and haven’t nailed down what “good” AI looks like for their roles. This got me thinking: if senior leadership is still stuck in “old time thinking,” how can we expect digital product design to leap forward?

AI is no longer an abstract concept—it’s a very real tool for transforming our workflows. Utley’s session, where live demos produced strategic presentations and in-depth research reports within minutes, highlights that smart AI integration can be as intuitive as using a trusty wrench. It’s clear that if we’re to push the boundaries in design, we need a hands-on, immersive experience. In my own work, I’ve seen firsthand how embracing AI can make our projects more agile and innovative.

For those in UX and digital product design, the message is simple: don’t wait for board approvals to start experimenting. Dive in yourself!

Boards, Leadership, and AI Adoption

Another striking takeaway is how board members and CEOs often delegate AI to committees, missing out on the visceral, creative potential of the technology. As Utley shares, one board member admitted feeling overwhelmed by the live demo—“my old time thinking” couldn’t keep up. This isn’t just a governance issue; it’s a wake-up call for design professionals too. When senior leaders haven’t got a hands-on understanding, they risk setting goals that are too conservative.

Professor Ethan Mollick’s comments on the matter (as featured on his podcast) reinforces that a lack of personal experience might lead to underwhelming innovation. According to McKinsey’s recent data, only about 6% of companies are seeing AI’s transformative bottom-line impact—and ambition is the key differentiator.

This paints a vivid picture: leaders who immerse themselves in AI can drive bolder, more transformative goals.

Practical Takeaways for UX Designers

So, what does all this mean for us in the design community? Simply put, if you’re not actively experimenting with AI in your design processes, your creative toolbox might be missing a game-changer. As Utley points out in his piece, leaders like Melissa Cheals have already shifted from traditional, lengthy proposals to agile, hackathon-style sprints—demonstrating that rapid experimentation can yield substantial benefits.

The takeaway here is to adopt an experimental mindset: try out AI tools for generating early design prototypes, use them to test UX flows in real time, or even explore automated research methods. Engage with these technologies daily (even if it’s just for 15 minutes, as suggested in some bootcamp formats) to keep your skills sharp and your design thinking future-ready.

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the only way to stay ahead is to be brave, hands-on, and always learning. Cheers to embracing the future—one experiment at a time!