After a talk I did on AI and UX, I met Stu Green. We had a follow up conversation about the changing role of Product Designers in the ever-evolving world of AI. Stu wrote this wonderful article that sums it up. Stu shared:
“It was honestly mind-blowing to see how fast they [AI tools] could scaffold entire applications. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and wanted to jump on this fast-moving train.”
Stu shares his journey of experimenting with various AI tools and his learnings. “…at first glance, they seemed magical. You feed them a rough outline, and — boom — they churn out a working product in no time… However, as soon as I tried to scale these projects and add more features, everything started falling apart.”
Through further experimentation and the rapid availability of newer, better AI tools, Stu eventually found the right mix.
Projects that traditionally took weeks or months with a small team, with AI, can be iterated by one person in days. Note – this “one person” must have a deep understanding of coding. Making the complex simple is not easy – it requires knowledge and experience. Not everyone can do what Stu, and others like Stu, are doing. But there is a new role emerging for those who have this knowledge and the curiosity and tenacity to explore the ‘art of the possible ‘with the new AI tools available.
Stu’s title for this new role is “AI-Driven Product Builder.” Stu explains:
“It sums up what I do: designing and engineering products with an AI-first mindset, iterating quickly, and building modern, user-focused solutions.”
If you love building products that solve real-world problems, and you find yourself at the intersection of creativity and technology… if you are ready to experiment, test rigorously, and eventually find the right environment that clicks with your workflow,… you, too, may be calling yourself an AI-Driven Product Builder.
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Green, Stu. The Next Evolution of Product Designers — AI-Driven Product Builder. Medium. March 2025. https://medium.com/@stulogy/the-next-evolution-of-product-designers-ai-driven-product-builder-39096882f8b7