Digital Burnout: AI Challenges Designers

The Impact of AI on the Daily Lives of Designers and Developers

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential tool in many sectors, transforming the way professionals work. However, this omnipresence can sometimes give the impression that AI is taking control of daily life, particularly for designers and developers, who may feel what is known as "AI fatigue."

A Personal Experience with AI-Generated Applications

Some time ago, a user interface designer and front-end developer felt the need to find a new app to track his expenses. While exploring the iOS App Store, he discovered a multitude of apps dedicated to financial management. However, he quickly noticed that many of these apps seemed to have been designed by algorithms rather than by humans. They lacked a personal touch and an originality that only a human mind can bring.

Faced with this observation, this professional decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own expense management app. He used Claude Code to develop a web application, which he then added to his iPhone’s home screen, giving it the appearance of a native app.

The Creation of "froggo," a Personal Application

Although this professional is familiar with Claude Code from his professional and personal projects, this time the experience was different. In his daily work, AI is an essential tool for coding websites, generating designs in Figma, and even writing professional emails. Indeed, some projects start with designs generated in Figma using AI prompts, which are then turned into real websites with the help of AI. The emails sent to clients, containing links to the finished sites, are also generated by AI. This workflow has become common, especially in front-end development, often cited as the industry most disrupted by AI.

However, using AI for a personal project in his free time made him realize that he was also delegating his free time to an automated process. That led him to identify a phenomenon of "AI fatigue," and he looked for ways to manage the situation better. Here are some strategies he found useful.

Reducing AI Use in Personal Life

• Not every task requires the intervention of an AI assistant like ChatGPT or Claude. Even though AI can speed up some tasks, doing them oneself brings a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

• If AI is omnipresent in professional life, it is advisable to avoid it in personal life. For example, planning one’s vacation without the help of AI, as was done ten years ago, using Google and asking friends for recommendations.

• It is possible to miss some attractions, but this will probably have no significant long-term impact. The important thing is not to let AI turn personal life into a mere extension of professional life.

Finding Joy in Accomplishing Certain Tasks Yourself

It is essential not to delegate every task to AI, especially those that are fun or rewarding. Even if it takes more time, doing these tasks oneself can be more satisfying.

• Identify the tasks one finds fun and do them oneself. For example, some developers like to code CSS animations by hand rather than let AI do it.

• For this professional, writing is a personal activity that he never delegates to AI. Whether it is for this article, WhatsApp messages, Slack messages, or any other communication, he insists that writing remain an expression of his thinking. Writing is thinking, and he does not want to outsource that to a machine. Although he may consult AI for advice or summaries, the writing itself is his own, and the final decision on what to change is his.

Avoiding the Pursuit of Excessive Productivity

AI can increase productivity, but it is important not to try to be 100 times more productive. That pursuit can lead to exhaustion and obsession.

• Focus on the quality of the work rather than the quantity. Work is endless, and it is better to maintain a high but reasonable level of productivity while finding pleasure in what one does.

• Invest in the work itself rather than in the tools or methods that lead to it. No tool is perfect, and trying to perfect them can be a source of needless frustration. Work should be satisfying, not just productive.

Not Feeling Behind with New Technologies

In the tech sector, it is often said that one must adopt every new technology to avoid being left behind. However, it is important to remember that one is not behind for not testing every new tool or AI assistant.

• The tools essential to one’s work will be learned in due course. There is no need to know every existing digital tool in advance. Tools will come and go, and they rarely matter in the grand scheme of things.

Conclusion: Finding Balance with AI

AI fatigue is a reality for many professionals, but it can be managed by adopting certain strategies. Leaving AI at work and disconnecting in personal life can be liberating, recalling a time when technology did not invade every aspect of life.

The expense app, froggo, is an example of a personal project that let this professional reflect on the impact of AI on his life. It continues to serve him every day, and he is convinced that others can also find ways to manage their relationship with AI.

If you have strategies that have worked for you, feel free to share them. AI is a powerful tool, but its use must be thoughtful in order to preserve well-being and creativity.