Enhancing User Experience Design through Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Tsarikova, Marina (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060319971
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060319971
Tiivistelmä
This study investigates the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in User Experience (UX) design, focusing on how these technologies may sustain, enhance, or redefine the design process. The goal is to understand UX practitioners’ current attitudes, practices, and ambitions regarding AI integration. Grounded in Design Thinking methodology and core human-centered design principles, the research emphasizes innovative problem-solving while examining AI’s influence on modern UX workflows.
A mixed-methods approach was adopted to gain both breadth and depth of insight. A survey of 100 UX professionals captured broad trends in AI tool usage and common perceived benefits and challenges of integrating AI into design. In parallel, semi-structured interviews with nine designers offered qualitative perspectives on personal experiences with AI in practice. This combi- nation of quantitative and qualitative data provided a comprehensive snapshot of present-day tool use, ethical considerations, perceived limitations, and aspirations for AI in UX.
Findings reveal that AI is primarily used to streamline and expedite specific design tasks. Partic- ipants reported using AI-driven tools to speed up research analysis, generate content or design alternatives during ideation, and automate routine, labor-intensive tasks. However, creative conceptualization, strategic decision-making, and empathetic understanding of users remain mainly human-led. Designers view AI as a powerful assistive tool that can offload tedious work and spark new ideas, but not as a substitute for human creativity or empathy. Most respondents welcomed AI for its efficiency gains but stressed that preserving human insight and user empathy is non-negotiable. There was also optimism about AI’s future capabilities, with many hoping for smarter tools that could further support creativity without compromising human-centered values.
The results stress the importance of striking a balance between automation and values of human-centered design. While artificial intelligence can aid in analysis and provide preliminary so- lutions, designers remain concerned with preserving the human touch that is fundamental for user-centric innovation. Ethical aspects also emerged, as participants highlighted issues of algorithmic bias, transparency, and potential loss of user trust. Due to these concerns, the research suggests actionable guidelines for the ethical implementation of AI—such as guidelines to reduce bias, ensure designers have the final say in essential decisions, and make AI-used tools more transparent. Furthermore, it calls for continued research into the long-term implications of AI on designers' roles and creativity. Ultimately, AI is seen as a complimentary col- laborator in the UX design process: when used wisely, AI can augment human creativity and productivity, while genuinely user-centered design will still rely on human empathy and judgment.
A mixed-methods approach was adopted to gain both breadth and depth of insight. A survey of 100 UX professionals captured broad trends in AI tool usage and common perceived benefits and challenges of integrating AI into design. In parallel, semi-structured interviews with nine designers offered qualitative perspectives on personal experiences with AI in practice. This combi- nation of quantitative and qualitative data provided a comprehensive snapshot of present-day tool use, ethical considerations, perceived limitations, and aspirations for AI in UX.
Findings reveal that AI is primarily used to streamline and expedite specific design tasks. Partic- ipants reported using AI-driven tools to speed up research analysis, generate content or design alternatives during ideation, and automate routine, labor-intensive tasks. However, creative conceptualization, strategic decision-making, and empathetic understanding of users remain mainly human-led. Designers view AI as a powerful assistive tool that can offload tedious work and spark new ideas, but not as a substitute for human creativity or empathy. Most respondents welcomed AI for its efficiency gains but stressed that preserving human insight and user empathy is non-negotiable. There was also optimism about AI’s future capabilities, with many hoping for smarter tools that could further support creativity without compromising human-centered values.
The results stress the importance of striking a balance between automation and values of human-centered design. While artificial intelligence can aid in analysis and provide preliminary so- lutions, designers remain concerned with preserving the human touch that is fundamental for user-centric innovation. Ethical aspects also emerged, as participants highlighted issues of algorithmic bias, transparency, and potential loss of user trust. Due to these concerns, the research suggests actionable guidelines for the ethical implementation of AI—such as guidelines to reduce bias, ensure designers have the final say in essential decisions, and make AI-used tools more transparent. Furthermore, it calls for continued research into the long-term implications of AI on designers' roles and creativity. Ultimately, AI is seen as a complimentary col- laborator in the UX design process: when used wisely, AI can augment human creativity and productivity, while genuinely user-centered design will still rely on human empathy and judgment.