5.1% Percentage point gap between Corporate Leaders (21.8%) and ICs (16.7%) adoption rates - the smallest leadership-IC gap across organizational types
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AI ADOPTION / SHAPES OF WORK
AI ADOPTION / SHAPES OF WORK
AI ADOPTION / SHAPES OF WORK
Corporate Designers
Corporate Designers
Corporate Designers
Corporate ICs
Primary AI applications
36.2%
Documentation
27.1%
Text generation
16.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Security compliance and enterprise integration
Corporate ICs
Primary AI applications
36.2%
Documentation
27.1%
Text generation
16.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Security compliance and enterprise integration
Corporate ICs
Primary AI applications
36.2%
Documentation
27.1%
Text generation
16.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Security compliance and enterprise integration
Corporate Leaders
Primary AI applications
21.8%
Adoption
29.3%
Documentation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: ROI demonstration and strategic implementation
Corporate Leaders
Primary AI applications
21.8%
Adoption
29.3%
Documentation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: ROI demonstration and strategic implementation
Corporate Leaders
Primary AI applications
21.8%
Adoption
29.3%
Documentation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: ROI demonstration and strategic implementation
5.1% Percentage point gap between Corporate Leaders (21.8%) and ICs (16.7%) adoption rates - the smallest leadership-IC gap across organizational types
5.1% Percentage point gap between Corporate Leaders (21.8%) and ICs (16.7%) adoption rates - the smallest leadership-IC gap across organizational types
Growth Company Designers
Growth Company Designers
Growth Company Designers
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation / Content Generation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Growth ICs
Growth Leaders
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation / Content Generation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Growth ICs
Growth Leaders
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation / Content Generation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Growth ICs
Growth Leaders
Key consideration for ICs: Workflow integration and scaling capabilities
Key consideration for leaders: Competitive advantage and productivity scaling
7.9% Percentage point gap between Growth Leaders (27.1%) and ICs (19.2%) adoption rates - indicating stronger top-down AI implementation
7.9% Percentage point gap between Growth Leaders (27.1%) and ICs (19.2%) adoption rates - indicating stronger top-down AI implementation
7.9% Percentage point gap between Growth Leaders (27.1%) and ICs (19.2%) adoption rates - indicating stronger top-down AI implementation
Startup Designers
Startup Designers
Startup Designers
Startup ICs
Primary AI applications
31.7%
Content generation
28.4%
Text generation
22.9%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Resource maximization and rapid iteration
Startup ICs
Primary AI applications
31.7%
Content generation
28.4%
Text generation
22.9%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Resource maximization and rapid iteration
Startup ICs
Primary AI applications
31.7%
Content generation
28.4%
Text generation
22.9%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Resource maximization and rapid iteration
Startup Leaders
Primary AI applications
33.3%
Adoption
30.3%
Text generation
35.5%
Content generation
Key consideration: Competitive positioning and team enablement
Startup Leaders
Primary AI applications
33.3%
Adoption
30.3%
Text generation
35.5%
Content generation
Key consideration: Competitive positioning and team enablement
Startup Leaders
Primary AI applications
33.3%
Adoption
30.3%
Text generation
35.5%
Content generation
Key consideration: Competitive positioning and team enablement
10.4% Percentage point gap between Startup Leaders (33.3%) and ICs (22.9%) - the largest leadership-IC adoption gap
10.4% Percentage point gap between Startup Leaders (33.3%) and ICs (22.9%) - the largest leadership-IC adoption gap
10.4% Percentage point gap between Startup Leaders (33.3%) and ICs (22.9%) - the largest leadership-IC adoption gap
Agency Designers
Agency Designers
Agency Designers
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Agency ICs
Agency Leaders
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Agency ICs
Agency Leaders
AI Usage patterns in design tools
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Documentation
Text
generation
Adoption
rate
Agency ICs
Agency Leaders
Key consideration for ICs: Client deliverables and project efficiency
Key consideration for leaders: Service positioning and communication effectiveness
13.1% Agency Leaders show the highest overall AI adoption rate (33.9%), likely reflecting client-facing pressures and external client pressures
13.1% Agency Leaders show the highest overall AI adoption rate (33.9%), likely reflecting client-facing pressures and external client pressures
13.1% Agency Leaders show the highest overall AI adoption rate (33.9%), likely reflecting client-facing pressures and external client pressures
Independent/Solo Designers
Independent/Solo Designers
Independent/Solo Designers
Independent/Solo ICs
Primary AI applications
29.3%
Text generation
26.1%
Documentation
24.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Individual productivity
Independent/Solo ICs
Primary AI applications
29.3%
Text generation
26.1%
Documentation
24.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Individual productivity
Independent/Solo ICs
Primary AI applications
29.3%
Text generation
26.1%
Documentation
24.7%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Individual productivity
Independent/Solo Leaders
Primary AI applications
Adoption rate not specified in dataset
28.3%
Content generation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: Competing with larger teams and expanding offerings
Independent/Solo Leaders
Primary AI applications
Adoption rate not specified in dataset
28.3%
Content generation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: Competing with larger teams and expanding offerings
Independent/Solo Leaders
Primary AI applications
Adoption rate not specified in dataset
28.3%
Content generation
31.5%
Text generation
Key consideration: Competing with larger teams and expanding offerings
24.7% Solo In-House Designers show higher AI adoption (24.7%) than any IC group in structured orgs.
24.7% Solo In-House Designers show higher AI adoption (24.7%) than any IC group in structured orgs.
24.7% Solo In-House Designers show higher AI adoption (24.7%) than any IC group in structured orgs.
Design Educators/Students
Design Educators/Students
Design Educators/Students
Design Educators/Researchers
Primary AI applications
30.7%
Documentation
22.7%
Research Insights
12.5%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Pedagogical alignment and curriculum relevance
Design Educators/Researchers
Primary AI applications
30.7%
Documentation
22.7%
Research Insights
12.5%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Pedagogical alignment and curriculum relevance
Design Educators/Researchers
Primary AI applications
30.7%
Documentation
22.7%
Research Insights
12.5%
Adoption rate
Key consideration: Pedagogical alignment and curriculum relevance
Design Students
Primary AI applications
19.0%
Adoption rate
25.0%
Documentation
32.6%
Text generation
Key consideration: Skill development and portfolio readiness
Design Students
Primary AI applications
19.0%
Adoption rate
25.0%
Documentation
32.6%
Text generation
Key consideration: Skill development and portfolio readiness
Design Students
Primary AI applications
19.0%
Adoption rate
25.0%
Documentation
32.6%
Text generation
Key consideration: Skill development and portfolio readiness
12.5% Design Educators show the lowest AI adoption rate (12.5%) of any work shape, creating a significant gap with industry practice
12.5% Design Educators show the lowest AI adoption rate (12.5%) of any work shape, creating a significant gap with industry practice
12.5% Design Educators show the lowest AI adoption rate (12.5%) of any work shape, creating a significant gap with industry practice