AI Tools for Designers: What Works, What Doesn’t (Yet)

Let’s be clear: AI won’t replace designers. But designers who understand how to use AI?

They’ll move faster, think bigger — and build with more precision than ever before.

In the same way Figma didn’t kill creativity, AI tools aren’t here to flatten your vision, they’re here to amplify it. When used intentionally, AI becomes less of a shortcut and more of a design co-pilot: supporting ideation, research, branding, UX, and even client communication.

Here’s our honest breakdown of the AI tools every designer is talking about in 2025 with real pros, cons, and what to expect before you click “generate.”

Galileo AI — UI Concepts from Text Prompts

Use case: Rapid idea generation for UI layouts (dashboards, SaaS apps, mobile flows)

✔️ Pros:

• Insanely fast — can generate 3–5 screens in under 10 seconds

• Surprisingly good for early-stage layout exploration

• Great for non-design stakeholders to visualize flows

❌ Cons:– UI is often generic or too "bootstrapy"– No design system control (fonts, colors, grids)– Feels more like an ideation tool than production-ready

Verdict:Use it to unblock your brain or pitch a concept to a client — but don’t skip your own Figma pass.

Attention Insight — AI Heatmaps & Visual Hierarchy

Use case: Testing which areas of a page draw user attention before going live

✔️ Pros:

• Predicts user focus areas based on visual weight

• Integrates with Figma and major design tools

• Great for pre-launch UX validation

❌ Cons:– Not a replacement for real user testing– Can over-prioritize contrast-heavy elements (not always desirable)– Works best on static screens, not interactive flows

Verdict:A solid gut-check tool, especially for landing pages and above-the-fold layouts — just don’t make decisions only by the heatmap.

PlaybookUX (AI features) — Automated UX Research

Use case: Run unmoderated tests, get AI-generated summaries of qualitative feedback

✔️ Pros:

• Saves tons of time on synthesis

• Excellent for clustering feedback or identifying friction points

• You get actionable insights — not just transcripts

❌ Cons:– Responses are only as good as your test structure– Hard to replace human empathy in interpreting pain points– Monthly plans can be pricey for small teams

Verdict:Best used as a supplement — combine AI synthesis with 1–2 live interviews for a full picture.

Looka / Brandmark / Designs.ai — AI Logo and Brand Generators

Use case: Generate logos and brand kits instantly based on input prompts

✔️ Pros:

• Fast way to explore multiple directions

• Offers full brand kits (colors, fonts, logo variants)

• Perfect for MVPs or low-budget brands

❌ Cons:– Outputs lack originality and soul– No creative logic behind visual metaphors– Difficult to scale into a serious, long-term brand

Verdict:Use them for brainstorming or small internal tools — but don’t let them define your brand story. Good designers still win here.

Surfer SEO / Jasper AI — AI-Powered Copy for Landing Pages

Use case: AI-generated SEO-optimized content for websites and product pages

✔️ Pros:

• Tight integration with content briefs and keyword clusters

• Can write metadata, hero text, and even CTAs

• Helps align copy with search intent

❌ Cons:– Generic tone unless heavily edited– Repetition in structure and phrasing– Doesn’t understand visual context (where the copy sits in layout)

Verdict:Use for draft copy or placeholder content — but human editing is 100% non-negotiable if you want it to feel like your brand.

Kive / Midjourney / Runway — Visual Inspiration & Content Gen

Use case: Generate moodboards, concept art, social visuals, and hero backgrounds

✔️ Pros:

• Midjourney excels at visual exploration

• Runway’s video tools are revolutionizing motion design

• Kive organizes and curates style directions with AI tags

❌ Cons:– Not editable vectors (yet)– May lack consistency across outputs– Requires strong prompting skills to control results

Verdict:Excellent for ideation, moodboarding, and client buy-in — but not a substitute for your Illustrator or After Effects.

Mutiny / Intellimize — AI-Driven CRO & Personalization

Use case: Real-time personalization and A/B testing without writing code

✔️ Pros:

• Dynamic copy and layout variations based on user behavior

• Integrates with Hubspot, Salesforce, and analytics

• Marketers can launch experiments without designers/devs

❌ Cons:– Design flexibility is limited– Can clash with your design system if not carefully controlled– Requires lots of traffic to be meaningful

Verdict:Smart layer for post-launch optimization — but designers should set the guardrails before marketing teams start playing.

So… Should You Trust AI With Your Design Workflow?

Yes — but wisely. AI tools in 2025 can speed up 60–70% of your design process. They’re best used for:

• Kickstarting ideation

• Testing usability assumptions

• Scaling brand kits

• Synthesizing research

• Filling content gaps fast

But they’re not ready to replace:

• Brand strategy

• Visual storytelling

• Interaction nuance

• Craftsmanship

Use AI like a designer uses a grid:A framework — not a limit.

Want to see how we use AI in real design projects?

From fast prototyping to brand systems and CRO — we’ve integrated AI into our design workflows without losing soul.

Book a free AI design strategy session →We’ll help you streamline your next project, smartly.