8.5% Designers citing "AI tools" as their top 2025 interest, ranking 3rd overall behind only Figma and Framer
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AI ADOPTION / TRENDS
AI ADOPTION / TRENDS
AI ADOPTION / TRENDS
Future tooling interests (2025)
250
200
150
100
0
Figma
Framer
AI Tools
(general)
ProtoPie
AR Tools
Webflow
Spline
Penpot
Maze
Dovetail
ChatGPT
Future tooling interests (2025)
250
200
150
100
0
Figma
Framer
AI Tools
(general)
ProtoPie
AR Tools
Webflow
Spline
Penpot
Maze
Dovetail
ChatGPT
Future tooling interests (2025)
250
200
150
100
0
Figma
Framer
AI Tools
(general)
ProtoPie
AR Tools
Webflow
Spline
Penpot
Maze
Dovetail
ChatGPT
8.5% Designers citing "AI tools" as their top 2025 interest, ranking 3rd overall behind only Figma and Framer
8.5% Designers citing "AI tools" as their top 2025 interest, ranking 3rd overall behind only Figma and Framer
32.2%
Average AI adoption among all leadership roles vs. 19.9% for ICs - a 12.3 percentage point gap
32.2%
Average AI adoption among all leadership roles vs. 19.9% for ICs - a 12.3 percentage point gap
32.2%
Average AI adoption among all leadership roles vs. 19.9% for ICs - a 12.3 percentage point gap
The Leadership-IC Divide on AI
The Leadership-IC Divide on AI
The Leadership-IC Divide on AI
Leadership roles consistently adopt AI at higher rates than ICs. This pattern reveals both momentum and friction:
Leadership vision often exceeds implementation capacity
Leadership vision often exceeds implementation capacity
Leadership vision often exceeds implementation capacity
ICs are expected to operationalize AI without top-down enablement
ICs are expected to operationalize AI without top-down enablement
ICs are expected to operationalize AI without top-down enablement
AI Adoption gap by work shape
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Agency
Startup
Growth
Corporate
Average
Leaders
ICs
AI Adoption gap by work shape
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Agency
Startup
Growth
Corporate
Average
Leaders
ICs
AI Adoption gap by work shape
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Agency
Startup
Growth
Corporate
Average
Leaders
ICs
By 2026, the AI leadership gap may reverse.
The top-down gap (e.g. 33.9% vs. 16.7% in Corporate) is difficult to sustain. As AI shifts toward practical, text-based workflows, ICs may surpass leaders in real usage.
This is a forward-looking hypothesis based on usage trends—not a direct survey result.
By 2026, the AI leadership gap may reverse.
The top-down gap (e.g. 33.9% vs. 16.7% in Corporate) is difficult to sustain. As AI shifts toward practical, text-based workflows, ICs may surpass leaders in real usage.
This is a forward-looking hypothesis based on usage trends—not a direct survey result.
By 2026, the AI leadership gap may reverse.
The top-down gap (e.g. 33.9% vs. 16.7% in Corporate) is difficult to sustain. As AI shifts toward practical, text-based workflows, ICs may surpass leaders in real usage.
This is a forward-looking hypothesis based on usage trends—not a direct survey result.
Summary: The AI Adoption Landscape
Three clear patterns emerge from our data:
1
Leadership-IC Divide
Leaders adopt AI at a higher rate (29.0%) than ICs (19.9%)
2
Text-first adoption
75.2% of AI usage focuses on writing, documentation, and content—not visuals
3
Client Influence
Client-facing designers show markedly higher AI adoption than internal-facing peers
Summary: The AI Adoption Landscape
Three clear patterns emerge from our data:
1
Leadership-IC Divide
Leaders adopt AI at a higher rate (29.0%) than ICs (19.9%)
2
Text-first adoption
75.2% of AI usage focuses on writing, documentation, and content—not visuals
3
Client Influence
Client-facing designers show markedly higher AI adoption than internal-facing peers
Summary: The AI Adoption Landscape
Three clear patterns emerge from our data:
1
Leadership-IC Divide
Leaders adopt AI at a higher rate (29.0%) than ICs (19.9%)
2
Text-first adoption
75.2% of AI usage focuses on writing, documentation, and content—not visuals
3
Client Influence
Client-facing designers show markedly higher AI adoption than internal-facing peers