Will AI Replace Web Designers?

September 28, 2025 • 10 minute read

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about whether AI might replace web designers, and honestly, it’s a fair question.

Things are shifting fast, and we’re in very new territory. If you’re a small business owner or someone who builds websites for a living (like me!), it’s natural to wonder if this industry is about to be taken over by automation, or if we’re looking at something more collaborative. One thing that’s clear to me is that web design is already evolving. With new AI tools launching every week, it’s safe to say the way we build online will look drastically different in a few years than it does today.

So where does that leave us human designers? And how should we be thinking about the role of AI in the work we do, especially for small businesses here in New York or anywhere else, who want their websites to feel personal and not robotic?

Why I’m Not Worried About AI

As a Chicago-raised New Yorker and the child of a small business owner, I’ve learned to be pretty resourceful over time, and adapting to change is just part of the territory for me. New Yorkers, especially, tend to have multiple side-hustles, a thick skin, and a number of skills to support their endeavors – not just one. We know that in order to make it here, we have to be resourceful and adaptable, and to understand how change and new tools can support our growth rather than bury us.

My mindset about AI is also influenced by the fact that I’m an artist with a background in film and photography, which is another industry being threatened by AI. So as an artist, a techie, and a small business owner, here are my thoughts: AI is an incredible tool but one with no guardrails, making it somewhat dangerous if in the wrong hands, but also making it a lifesaver for those who haven’t had the money or resources to gain access to the same level of support large corporations have had for decades.

At this point, I recognize that AI is a double-edged sword. It’s both a help and a threat. It’s a blessing and a curse. So how can we ensure that its influence sways us in the right direction so that we can both sustain our professions while also continuing to help others maintain a genuine and high-quality online presence that doesn’t look like it was created by a robot?

I think that’s where human influence will remain a requirement. Over time, a lack of human influence and ideas would create a stagnant output from AI because it gets its data from human beings. If humans were to stop providing that input, it would negatively impact the output of AI.

What the Experts Are Saying About AI and Web Design

This isn’t just my take as someone who works with clients one-on-one. Leaders in tech and design have been saying something similar: AI might change how we work, but it’s not replacing the need for skilled designers.

GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani recently said that having your own website is still one of the most powerful things you can do for your business. Despite the rise of AI-powered tools, websites continue to be a key way for small businesses to build credibility and connect directly with customers.

Jon Friedman, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Design and Research, described how AI is transforming the design process. Rather than removing the need for designers, AI is helping shift their role—allowing them to focus more on curating and shaping ideas, rather than building everything from scratch.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has emphasized that while AI can speed up creative tasks, human taste and originality are still essential—especially when it comes to design. These tools still depend heavily on human input, intention, and refinement.

So while AI might accelerate parts of the process, it’s not removing the need for human-led, thoughtful design. What’s evolving is how designers work—not whether they’re needed.

What AI Can’t Do (and Why Human Designers Still Matter)

AI can do a lot. It can suggest layouts, build basic pages from prompts, and speed up small tasks that used to take more time. But those results only work when someone is there to guide them. Web design is more than fitting content into a structure. It’s about intention, clarity, and connection.

What tends to be missing from AI-generated work are the quieter decisions. The ones that make a site feel like it belongs to you. This is where human skills still lead. When you work with a designer, you're getting more than a product; you're getting a process that’s built around collaboration, clarity, and good judgment.

Strategy and judgment
A website should be designed around goals, not just appearances. A designer helps you get clear on why the site exists, what the structure should support, and how visitors will move through it. That includes understanding who your audience is, what their mindset might be, and what’s likely to earn their trust. No matter how advanced a tool is, it can’t make those decisions for you. And a good designer asks questions, reads between the lines, and builds with purpose.

Taste and creative direction
Visual design is full of subtle choices that impact how something feels. A designer knows when something is too busy, when to hold back, or when to shift something just slightly to make it easier on the eye. These aren't always technical decisions. They come from experience, instincts, and exposure to good design over time. Tools can imitate popular styles, but they can't judge whether a layout feels off, or whether a color combination clashes with your brand personality.

Collaboration and flexibility
Working with a designer means having a partner who can listen, interpret, and respond to change. The process often evolves, and that’s expected. Clients might shift direction halfway through a project or want to rethink how something looks once they see it live. A designer can guide those changes without derailing the outcome. AI tools can generate a version of something, but they won’t meet you halfway if your needs change. That kind of back-and-forth is a very human part of the creative process.

Trust and emotional intelligence
Web design is rarely just about design. It’s often tied to someone’s business, identity, or creative work. And that can bring up all kinds of vulnerability. A real designer knows how to take care of that. They can sense when something doesn’t feel aligned, help clarify decisions when there’s uncertainty, and support you through the process. That kind of emotional awareness doesn’t come from automation, it comes from working with people and knowing how to hold space for what’s important.

Using AI as a tool, not a shortcut
That said, AI can still be useful when used with intention. I use it behind the scenes in small ways: to test headlines, draft alt text, or move faster when a client needs help shaping a starting point. But I always stay in control of the work. I’m the one making the final decisions about what stays, what gets reworked, and what’s worth tossing out entirely. In that way, AI supports the work without leading it.

Human Beings Still Want Human Help

Earlier this year, a new client of mine reached out after trying one of those AI website builders. The platform had used AI to generate a slick homepage, complete with placeholder copy and a nice color palette. At first, she was excited by how quickly it came together. Problem was that by the end of the week, she was stuck.

The colors didn’t match the feel of her brand.
The font choices felt clunky on mobile.
When she tried to move a few things around, the layout broke entirely.

It looked nice, it just didn’t look like her brand. She told me she was hesitant to even share the link with people, even though she’d technically “finished” the site. And she didn’t know how to fix it without starting over. That’s when she reached out.

We sat down together and walked through what she really wanted her site to say; not just visually, but emotionally. We talked about how she wanted people to feel when they landed on it. We restructured the layout, adjusted the tone of the copy, and gave it a look that actually aligned with her brand voice. By the time we wrapped, she was proud to send the link around.

Stories like that come up more often now. Before it was with the original website builders like Wix, GoDaddy and Squarespace. Now that AI tools are involved, it’s no different, because it ends up in the same place: a template that seemed like a great idea at the time, but came with limitations and stuck users when it comes to modifying it without breaking the design.

AI tools can get you part of the way there, but when it comes time to shape something thoughtful and lasting, most people still want a human being they can talk to, ask questions, and trust to make the right design decisions.

How Will AI Specifically Impact Web Design

When I think about where AI might take web design in the long run, I don’t see it going far beyond what DIY website builders already offer. It might be able to generate a full website mockup from a text prompt, which is impressive. But at the end of the day, that still leaves the user with a template: something we already get from platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify.

Imagine a well-trained AI platform where you could say, “I want a professional website for my law firm with a Home page, About, Services, Contact, and one more page for a specific product. Use navy blue and gold, choose a clean, sophisticated font, and make it feel modern and minimalist.” That’s not hard to picture. And honestly, it sounds helpful.

But even if the AI nails the initial layout, most users will still want to make changes. Maybe they want to swap in their own photos, adjust the typography, or slightly tweak the color scheme. That’s where things start to fall apart, because most users of site builders aren’t designers. And modifying a template in a way that still looks polished and intentional takes skill.

Even if the AI produces something solid to start with, users will always want control. They’ll want the option to make it their own. That means design choices will still be made by people. People who may not have the training or visual instincts to keep the design feeling cohesive.

It’s also worth considering whether a non-technical user really wants a platform that questions or contradicts their choices. That kind of back-and-forth only works well when there’s trust.

And that brings me back to the value of working with a human. The benefit isn’t just in having someone build a layout. It's in what happens afterwards. A good designer can take your ideas, shape them into something clear and thoughtful, and gently guide you through decisions that will make your site stronger. You get feedback, direction, and a level of quality that doesn’t rely on luck or automation.

There’s also the trust factor. That’s a human trait, and it matters more than people realize. When you're working on something that represents your livelihood, you want to feel like you’re in good hands. AI might be able to speed things up, but it doesn’t offer that kind of reassurance. As quickly as technology evolves, human nature doesn’t shift quite as fast. People still want to feel seen, supported, and understood, especially when it comes to something as personal as their business.

So, Will AI Replace Your Small Business Web Designer?

AI will absolutely change the way we work. That part is already happening. It’s speeding up small tasks, reducing technical barriers, and making it easier for people to start something on their own. But starting was never the hard part. Finishing well—with clarity, consistency, and care—is where experience really matters.

That’s where human designers still lead. We bring strategy, visual judgment, emotional intelligence, and collaboration into the process. And those things can’t be templated.

For small business owners, it’s not about choosing between AI and a designer. It’s about knowing when you need support, where the tools fall short, and when a real person can help you move forward with more confidence. If AI helps you get started, that’s great. But if you want something thoughtful, aligned, and built to last, it helps to have someone in your corner who understands how to get you there—and where you’re going.

As a designer, I’m not here to compete with AI. I’m here to keep bringing the human side of design into a world that’s changing fast, and to keep doing work that feels clear, honest, and real.

I work with small business owners in NYC and around the country who want thoughtful, strategic websites that actually reflect their voice—not just what a tool spits out. If you’ve tried AI and felt stuck, or if you’re curious how others are navigating these changes, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you’re looking for a Brooklyn-based web designer who blends strategy, storytelling, and clean design, you can learn more about my services, see recent work, or get in touch to start a conversation.