The Power of Design Patterns vs. the AI Challenge

Familiarity breeds comfort. In user experience, that often means sticking to design patterns people already know.

Our collective strength has always been in its pattern-recognizing skills, and the ability to iterate on that thinking, in the most efficient ways. Repeat an activity enough times and it becomes second nature—we automatically compress the steps into one fluid process. Think about driving, brewing your morning coffee, or even perfecting that favourite recipe.

Now, with AI-powered technology at our fingertips, it’s easy to put aside these deeply ingrained abilities and habits for a quick hit of AI lead innovation. Unfortunately our AI LLM software partners aren't acutely aware (yet) of the nuanced behaviours of different cultures, languages, and generations; each with their own unique experiences, patterns and preferences.

Which, when we rely heavily on AI to guide our design solutions, we risk losing sight of fundamental user experience principles. Consistency, relevance, and colloquial nuances still need a human touch, whether it’s for websites or apps.

Patterns Define Our Shared Experiences

So, where does AI fall down? **Inconsistency.** That can be jarring and confusing for development teams and end users alike—and it ultimately harms your product’s credibility.

Take address fields and product details, for example. An AI LLM can seamlessly generate these fields, but in a future session it might rearrange them, add new ones, or remove them altogether—just because it “decided” the conversation warranted it. That might seem minor in one corner of your product, but it adds up fast when it’s spread across multiple user screens and application flows. Never-mind the underlying code, required to support the data to display the results.

Todays' Tech-First thinking makes it tempting to say, “Let’s just feed all our data to AI and watch it create magic.”

But if you’ve ever tried using AI to automate a workflow, you’ve probably seen how it can quickly spiral into irrelevant details. The worst of which ends up with the AI tacking on extra fields it pulled from some example on the internet.

When you factor in screen-to-screen flows and customer journeys, it's easy to end up with a pixelated estimation that doesn’t quite feel right or natural. AI is brilliant at rapid iteration but can fall flat when it comes to nuance and consistency. That’s why human oversight — the eyes, ears, and instincts of an experienced designer or consultant — remains critical.

Where Humans Still Win

1. Consistency & Context
   People excel at spotting when AI’s suggestions drift off-course. We understand context, business rules, and the target audience. AI only sees data—without that bigger picture.
2. Research & Empathy  
   Real-world users have messy, complex, and sometimes contradictory needs. A skilled UX designer can empathize and figure out how to solve actual pain points—while AI might optimize only for what’s statistically likely.
3. Innovating Beyond Templates
   AI can replicate existing patterns, but groundbreaking solutions still come from human ingenuity. The best use of AI in design is to scale the mundane tasks so designers and consultants can focus on the truly innovative work.

Your AI/UX Champion

If you’re integrating AI into your next project, designate someone to lead the charge—a blend of Prompt Engineer, UX Specialist, and Business Analyst rolled into one. This champion understands your organization’s goals and can leverage AI’s speed while maintaining a clear vision.

AI alone can’t replace strategic thought leadership, but it can drastically streamline the creative process when paired with the right expertise.

Remember... We’re still in the early days of AI-driven design, similar to when “mobile-first” and responsive design were brand-new concepts. Nothing beats having a competent human in the loop—even if you’re just refining established patterns for emerging technologies. It’s all about evolution, not replacement.

Need a Hand?

Looking for a guide in this brave new world of AI-driven design?

That’s where I come in. I’ve been working at the intersection of human experience and AI, constantly inventing, testing, and sharing insights with the community. If you need help preventing inconsistencies—or just want a second set of eyes—feel free to reach out.

• Join my mailing list for insights, case studies, and behind-the-scenes how-tos.  
• Find me on social media to stay connected and follow my latest experiments: @vveerrgg on X.com, Bluesky, & Nostr.

In the end, remember: Familiarity breeds comfort. Keep pattern-based thinking front and centre, and never forget that every user has unique needs. AI can help, but humans keep it relevant. Let’s partner up to make sure these new tools serve people, not the other way around.