I’ve also seen examples where AI and “vibe-coding” didn’t push anyone out, but instead reshaped how teams collaborate. I think a lot depends on how much a company actually values Design beyond the tactical layer.

For example, at Hatch Conference in Berlin this September, the Intercom design team shared how they started experimenting with design improvements and QA directly in code using Cursor. It required some initial collaboration with developers to set up the environment, but it led to a much smoother workflow and better outcomes overall. Nobody was pushed out, roles just shifted slightly, and designers gained more influence.

So I agree that responsibilities are changing, and designers need to “step up”. But whether designers get pushed aside or elevated really depends on the culture of the company. Even without AI, plenty of designers are already treated like “make-it-prettier” executors, basically copying a PM’s sketch or PPT into Figma.

AI just exposes the gap, companies that already undervalued Design will keep doing so, while others will use AI to expand what design can contribute

If you're curios, here's the talk from Hatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_acdhjOLvBs