London: Professional designers should not feel threatened by the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence, industry leaders have said, arguing that the technology is more likely to enhance creative work than eliminate skilled jobs.
As design firms, film production companies and manufacturers increasingly adopt AI tools, industry representatives said human expertise would remain essential. They noted that designers are already using AI to improve their work and explore new creative possibilities.
Mat Hunter, Chief Executive of the Design Council, remarked that designers were increasingly turning to AI to add value to their work. While acknowledging that technological advances can change employment patterns, he said designers’ creativity and ability to innovate would continue to create new opportunities.
Deborah Dawton, Chief Executive of the Design Business Council, noted that skilled designers had qualities that AI could not easily replicate, including experience, empathy, technical knowledge and a deep understanding of the industries they serve.
Research by the King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Policy Institute found that 57 percent of people believe AI could result in widespread unemployment. Freelancers have also reported taking on work involving the correction of errors in AI-generated content.
However, figures from the Design Council’s Design Economy 2026 report indicate that the UK design sector has continued to expand. The industry grew by 40 percent between 2019 and the end of 2023, compared with 23 percent growth across the wider economy.
The sector supports around 2.27 million design-related jobs across areas including construction, services and manufacturing, while employment increased by 15 percent between 2020 and 2025. Industry leaders said these figures suggest that demand for design skills has remained strong despite the emergence of widely used AI systems such as ChatGPT and Claude.
Dawton compared the current transformation with the introduction of computer-aided design, which reduced demand for some traditional drafting roles but also created new opportunities elsewhere in the industry.
Andrew Duff, Head of the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers, said that many professionals in his field remained concerned about AI. However, he said businesses were more likely to use the technology as an assistant or ‘intern in the office’ rather than as a replacement for experienced staff.
The Design Council report also highlighted the sector’s economic contribution, with design-related activity generating £136.7bn in gross value added across the UK. The figure exceeds the contribution of the retail sector, which stands at £114bn.
Hunter added that the industry’s bigger challenge could be a shortage of skilled workers rather than AI itself. Entries for design and technology GCSEs fell by 68 percent over the decade to 2024, raising concerns about the future pipeline of talent.
Dawton stressed the need for specialist teachers and equipment in schools to encourage young people to pursue design and develop the skills needed to shape the next generation of products, services and experiences.
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