Figma CEO Dylan Field has made clear his vision for artificial intelligence in the design industry: AI tools will enhance and streamline the creative process, but they won’t replace world-class designers. Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast with host Bob Safian, the 33-year-old billionaire executive outlined how Figma’s AI-powered design tools are transforming the workflow for designers while maintaining the essential human element of creativity.
Field explained that Figma’s AI capabilities serve a dual purpose—they “lower the floor” by making design more accessible to non-designers, while simultaneously “raising the ceiling” for professional designers to accomplish more sophisticated work. The San Francisco-based technology company, which offers design tools for creating websites, apps, and other digital products, recently celebrated a blockbuster IPO in July that raised $1.2 billion, with shares opening at triple their asking price.
The CEO emphasized that users hold AI to exceptionally high standards, even for simple tasks. “Ultimately, all of us humans, we expect more from AI than we expect from a human,” Field noted, explaining that if an AI system can’t execute a minor command like adjusting spacing in a file, users will quickly dismiss its broader capabilities. However, he was careful to set realistic expectations about AI’s limitations in creative work.
“I’m not saying that we have to do the work of a world-class designer, because we won’t,” Field stated clearly. “There’s a need for designers to lead the charge, and AI will only get you so far.” Instead, the focus is on eliminating tedious, repetitive tasks—what Field calls the “drudgery” of design work—while democratizing access to design tools for a broader audience.
This perspective is supported by research from Andrew Hogan, Figma’s head of insights, who conducted a September study surveying approximately 1,200 participants across various roles including designers, product managers, developers, researchers, data specialists, and marketers. The study found that 53% of respondents believe that even with AI assistance, deep subject matter knowledge remains essential for quality work.
Field’s views align with industry peers like Cliff Obrecht, Canva’s cofounder, who expressed similar sentiments in July, arguing that AI tools free designers for “high-value work” and that rejecting AI as a creative professional would be “folly.”
Key Quotes
Ultimately, all of us humans, we expect more from AI than we expect from a human. You know, if you say, ‘Okay, here’s a small prompt to change my spacing in a file,’ Figma better get it right.
Dylan Field, Figma’s CEO, explained the paradoxically high standards users apply to AI systems. This highlights the challenge AI companies face: users demand near-perfect performance even for simple tasks, and any failure undermines confidence in the technology’s broader capabilities.
I’m not saying that we have to do the work of a world-class designer, because we won’t. There’s a need for designers to lead the charge, and AI will only get you so far.
Field set clear boundaries on AI’s capabilities in creative work, emphasizing that human designers remain essential for leading creative direction. This statement directly addresses fears about AI replacing creative professionals while acknowledging AI’s supportive role.
But the drudgery, how do we remove that from the design process? How do we give more access to more people?
The Figma CEO articulated his company’s core AI strategy: eliminating repetitive, tedious tasks while democratizing design capabilities. This framing positions AI as a tool for efficiency and accessibility rather than replacement, addressing both professional designers and newcomers to the field.
Our Take
Field’s perspective represents a mature, realistic view of AI’s role in creative industries that contrasts sharply with both utopian and dystopian narratives. His emphasis on removing “drudgery” rather than replacing designers acknowledges a fundamental truth: AI excels at repetitive, rule-based tasks but struggles with the strategic thinking, cultural understanding, and creative intuition that define world-class design work. The fact that Figma’s IPO raised $1.2 billion with shares tripling their asking price suggests investors agree with this balanced approach. What’s particularly noteworthy is Field’s observation about AI being held to higher standards than humans—a psychological insight that reveals why AI adoption faces resistance despite impressive capabilities. The 53% of surveyed professionals who believe deep expertise remains essential even with AI validates this human-centered approach. As AI tools proliferate across creative industries, Figma’s model of augmentation over replacement may become the template for sustainable AI integration.
Why This Matters
This story represents a crucial perspective from a leading design technology company on AI’s role in creative industries, an area of significant concern and debate. As AI tools become increasingly sophisticated, questions about job displacement and the future of creative work have intensified. Field’s position—that AI augments rather than replaces human creativity—offers a pragmatic middle ground that acknowledges both AI’s capabilities and limitations.
The timing is particularly significant given Figma’s recent successful IPO, which demonstrates strong market confidence in AI-enhanced design tools. With $1.2 billion raised and shares tripling their asking price, investors clearly see value in this human-AI collaborative approach. The research showing that 53% of professionals still consider deep expertise essential even with AI assistance validates Field’s perspective and suggests that the “AI replacement” narrative may be overstated in creative fields.
For businesses and designers, this signals a need to embrace AI tools while continuing to develop human expertise. The focus on removing “drudgery” rather than replacing designers suggests a future where creative professionals can focus on higher-level strategic and artistic decisions, potentially increasing both productivity and job satisfaction across the design industry.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/figma-ceo-dylan-field-software-wont-replace-designers-2025-10