Smarter UX: How AI in UX design boosted our speed by 30%

Blog post | Designing smarter: How AI in UX design increased our speed by 30%

Our design process was good—but we wanted it to be great. We weren’t just chasing faster delivery; we were aiming for smarter ideation, more focused validations, and a creative workflow that could scale without compromising quality. That’s where AI stepped in.

By thoughtfully integrating AI in UX design, we’ve transformed our process into a more efficient, collaborative, and future-ready system. Far from replacing human creativity, generative AI for design has become a valuable partner—one that boosts our speed and sharpens our outcomes.

Here's how we embraced AI-powered design tools to cut delivery time by nearly a third—without cutting corners.

Our original design process

Our UX design journey typically moves through five core phases:

1. Ideation & research

2. Wireframing

3. UI design & prototyping

4. Validation & testing

5. Iteration & documentation

Each of these areas presented opportunities for design process improvement—and AI helped us unlock them.

Phase 1: Smarter ideation and research

Ideation and research are the backbone of effective UX design. To supercharge this phase, we tapped into AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for deep research, discovery, brainstorming, interview script creation, and turning complex requirements into clear, actionable insights.

For visualizing user journeys and mapping detailed flows, we leaned on collaborative AI platforms like FigJam AI and Whimsical AI. These tools helped us rapidly explore possibilities, validate early concepts, and move forward with confidence.

Result: We cut down ideation and research time by nearly 40%, accelerating the entire design process.

Phase 2: Wireframing at warp speed

Wireframing used to mean endless rounds of sketches and revisions. Now, each AI tool has a role to play: Lovable.dev sparks quick ideas, UX Pilot and Uizard generate lo-fi wireframes fast, Figma AI helps structure landing pages, and Relume organizes sitemaps and IA seamlessly.

We also use ChatGPT to refine wireframes and draft detailed mockup descriptions, streamlining the review and validation process.

Result: Wireframing cycles are 35% faster, leading to quicker decisions and faster iterations.

Using UXPilot.ai for lo-fi wireframing — *Using UX Pilot.ai for lo-fi wireframing*

Phase 3: Accelerated UI and high-fidelity design

High-fidelity design used to demand painstaking attention to detail around typography, color, and assets. Now, we use AI tools to work smarter:

Recraft for style-consistent illustrations and icons
Freepik AI for quick video, image, and illustration generation
Firefly for stunning image compositions and style references
Ideogram for rapid asset creation

*Recraft being used to generate style consistent illustrations effortlessly*

We also speed up typography decisions with Font Joy and build interactive prototypes faster with UX Pilot.

Figma’s AI suite adds another level of efficiency — from visual search for assets, AI-powered prototyping (especially for simpler flows), bulk layer renaming, to AI-driven content generation that removes the need for placeholder text.

Result: We accelerated our UI design process by about 30%, delivering faster without compromising quality.

*Figma AI Suite. In spotlight (Visual search)*

Phase 4: Leaner testing and validation

Instead of lengthy review loops, we now use UX Pilot and ChatGPT for automated heuristic analysis, usability checks, and accessibility compliance.

Result: We’ve shaved 25% off our testing and validation timeline—and stakeholders appreciate the quicker feedback cycles.

Using UXPilot.ai Design review — *Using UX Pilot.ai Design review*

Phase 5: Streamlined UX writing and documentation

We create clear, on-brand microcopy using ChatGPT and Claude. Gemini Advanced and Notion AI help us capture and organize meeting notes and design documentation, boosting team clarity and collaboration.

Result: These enhancements have significantly improved internal alignment and reduced the back-and-forth during handoffs.

*Using ChatGPT to craft easy to understand micro-copies*

Beyond the interface: AI across the ecosystem

AI touches more than just screens:

- Graphic & Motion Design: Firefly and Freepik support animation and video assets; Suno and Freepik Tunes bring soundscapes to life.

- Storyboarding: ChatGPT helps map out interaction flows and storytelling for product experiences.

Final thoughts: The future of UX design is collaborative

By embedding AI in UX design at every stage—from research to UI and beyond—we’ve improved our speed by 30% without sacrificing creativity or quality.

This isn’t automation for automation’s sake. It’s about pairing human imagination with tools that let us move faster, think deeper, and design better. As the future of UX design continues to evolve, embracing AI won’t just be an advantage—it’ll be a necessity.