Caleb Ini. D. Duff | TLGM |

A warning to all designers I'm seeing a dangerous trend on LinkedIn and X, and I need to call it out. In trying to prove you can "design and build with AI," designers are oversimplifying the process. And it's backfiring badly. What I'm seeing: "I built an entire app in seconds with AI." "You don't need to give any input, AI handles everything." "Designed and shipped in hours with no effort." Imagine you're a potential client reading that. Why would you hire a designer if it sounds like they did nothing? Like AI did all the work? Here's the reality: Anyone who's actually built something with AI knows the truth. The work is immense. You need to: - Write detailed PRDs and briefs - Know which AI tools solve which problems - Run commands in the terminal - Manage API tokens and costs - Make countless design iterations - Test, refine, validate - Make critical decisions at every step This isn't automation. This is strategy disguised as simplicity. The damage you're doing: By making it sound effortless, you're training clients to think designers are obsolete. You're undercutting your own value. What you should actually communicate: "I used AI strategically to accelerate execution while maintaining my standards. Here's the thinking behind the decisions. Here's what I refined. Here's the work that went into this." That's the message that gets clients excited. That's what justifies the rate. Remember: Your critical thinking is still essential. Your judgment still matters. Your ability to see what AI missed, that's irreplaceable. Don't sell yourself short trying to sound impressive. Show the actual work. Show the thinking. That's what makes you valuable.