AI + Design Sentiment Survey

Angry — I'm mad. How this is being handled, at my company, in the industry, pretty much everywhere, is genuinely wrong, and I feel it.

Skeptical — I'm not buying what I'm hearing. The AI-and-design conversation is overhyped, and I'm waiting for something with substance.

Exhausted — The pace, the overwhelming expectations, the tool churn, the FOMO — it's worn me down.

Roller Coaster — Depends on the day. May depend on the hour. Some days I'm energized, some days I'm not. It's definitely a mixed bag.

Pragmatic — There's work to do, and AI is part of it. It helps in some areas, and I don't worry about it where it doesn't.

Enthusiastic — I'm excited about what's newly possible. There are opportunities for doing things differently, and better.

Thriving — This moment is bringing out the best in me and my team. We're doing work I couldn't have imagined a year ago.

Senior executive (CDO, CXO, SVP, or equivalent)

Dormant — No formal AI initiatives. Tools aren't sanctioned. Rarely discussed. Just not a thing.

Emerging — Individual experimentation with tools. Some pockets of use. No strategic direction yet.

Adopting — Tools sanctioned, some workflows integrated, active investment. Still figuring out what "good" looks like.

Integrated — AI is woven into how the company builds and works, org-wide. Design, product, and engineering are all in it together.

AI-native — The product itself is inseparable from AI. Design and development can't be described without it.

In role, planning to leave in the next 6–12 months

Seriously considering leaving design / tech