How I Use AI in My Design Practice
How I Use AI in My Design Practice
AI is part of my day-to-day workflow, not as a shortcut, but as a thinking partner. I use it to expand ideation, accelerate research synthesis, reduce low-value work, and make decisions more transparent. Every output is reviewed, refined, and owned by me. Judgment stays human.
AI is part of my day-to-day workflow, not as a shortcut, but as a thinking partner. I use it to expand ideation, accelerate research synthesis, reduce low-value work, and make decisions more transparent. Every output is reviewed, refined, and owned by me. Judgment stays human.
Where AI Fits in My Process
Where AI Fits in My Process
Ideation & Exploration
Ideation & Exploration
I use AI early to break creative inertia, explore alternate directions, and challenge assumptions before design momentum sets in.
I use AI early to break creative inertia, explore alternate directions, and challenge assumptions before design momentum sets in.
How it's used
How it's used
Generate divergent concepts from the same problem framing
Generate divergent concepts from the same problem framing
Explore edge cases, accessibility-first approaches, and failure modes
Explore edge cases, accessibility-first approaches, and failure modes
Turn abstract constraints into concrete design prompts
Turn abstract constraints into concrete design prompts
Research Synthesis & Pattern Detection
Research Synthesis & Pattern Detection
AI helps me make sense of qualitative data faster without skipping rigor.
AI helps me make sense of qualitative data faster without skipping rigor.
How it's used
How it's used
Cluster interview transcripts into early thematic groupings
Cluster interview transcripts into early thematic groupings
Surface repeated language, sentiment, and contradictions
Surface repeated language, sentiment, and contradictions
Identify patterns that deserve deeper human analysis
Identify patterns that deserve deeper human analysis
Note-Taking & Context Preservation
Note-Taking & Context Preservation
I use AI to keep research and decisions coherent over time.
I use AI to keep research and decisions coherent over time.
How it's used
How it's used
Convert raw notes into structured summaries
Convert raw notes into structured summaries
Tag insights by persona, journey stage, and risk
Tag insights by persona, journey stage, and risk
Preserve context across long or paused projects
Preserve context across long or paused projects
Sense-Making & Analysis Support
Sense-Making & Analysis Support
AI acts as a second set of eyes, not a decision maker.
AI acts as a second set of eyes, not a decision maker.
How it's used
How it's used
Pressure-test early conclusions
Pressure-test early conclusions
Reframe findings from user, business, or edge-case perspectives
Reframe findings from user, business, or edge-case perspectives
Ask what might be missing before reviews
Ask what might be missing before reviews
Drafting, Refinement & Communication
Drafting, Refinement & Communication
I use AI to speed up early drafts. Editing is where the quality comes from.
I use AI to speed up early drafts. Editing is where the quality comes from.
How it's used
How it's used
Generate UX copy options and research summaries
Generate UX copy options and research summaries
Adapt messaging for different audiences
Adapt messaging for different audiences
Tighten clarity without losing nuance or voice
Tighten clarity without losing nuance or voice
Sample Prompts I Actually Use
Click to expand
Sample Prompts I Actually Use
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Sample Prompts I Actually Use
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Before / After: Research Synthesis
Before / After: Research Synthesis
Before AI-Assisted Synthesis
Hours spent manually tagging and re-reading interview transcripts
Hours spent manually tagging and re-reading interview transcripts
Patterns emerged slowly, often after multiple passes
Patterns emerged slowly, often after multiple passes
Easy to miss outlier perspectives or contradictory feedback
Easy to miss outlier perspectives or contradictory feedback
Synthesis felt subjective and hard to validate with team
After AI-Assisted Synthesis
AI surfaces initial themes and clusters in minutes
AI surfaces initial themes and clusters in minutes
More time for interpreting meaning and strategic implications
More time for interpreting meaning and strategic implications
Edge cases and contradictions flagged automatically
Edge cases and contradictions flagged automatically
Shared structured output as starting point for team alignment
Shared structured output as starting point for team alignment
What changed:
AI handled the first pass. I handled the meaning, implications, and decisions.
Net result: ~50–60% reduction in synthesis time without sacrificing rigor.
My AI Ethics Stance
My AI Ethics Stance
I validate AI outputs against real user needs, not just technical feasibility.
I validate AI outputs against real user needs, not just technical feasibility.
Design decisions remain my responsibility, regardless of which tools helped generate them.
Design decisions remain my responsibility, regardless of which tools helped generate them.
I don't use AI in ways that compromise user privacy or create work I can't defend.
I don't use AI in ways that compromise user privacy or create work I can't defend.
Tools I Use
Tools I Use
Design Phase
Research & Discovery
Ideation & Brainstorming
Content & Copywriting
Analysis & Synthesis
Documentation
Prototyping & Code
Design Phase
ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity
ChatGPT, Claude, Miro AI
ChatGPT, Claude
Claude, ChatGPT, Notion AI
Notion AI, ChatGPT
Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot
AI gives me leverage to explore more, analyze faster, and document better. But the quality of my work still depends on asking the right questions, understanding context, and applying judgment. I use these tools to amplify design rigor, not replace it.
AI gives me leverage to explore more, analyze faster, and document better. But the quality of my work still depends on asking the right questions, understanding context, and applying judgment. I use these tools to amplify design rigor, not replace it.
Open to
new opportunities and
collaborations.
OLIVIA FAY 2026
Open to
new opportunities and
collaborations.
OLIVIA FAY 2026
Open to
new opportunities and
collaborations.
OLIVIA FAY 2026