AD72: Do We Need Websites Anymore?

24 November 2024 | Issue #72

In this issue:

Do We Need Websites Anymore?
Canva Design Trends 2025
25% of Google's Code is Generated by AI
Coca-Cola's AI-Generated Ad Sparks Discussion
How Many Colors Can You Name?
New Survey: Designers' Views on Using AI
Design Quote of the Week

**Prompt:** a cartoon illustration. A hipster man with a beard and black-rim glasses is facing the camera, but his eyes are looking to the right side. Behind him is a robot. --ar 16:9, then modified in Adobe Illustrator

We talk a lot about the impact of AI on jobs. But how about the effect it will have on how we interact with the world around us? We've learned how to use technology to help us do new things, and do old things more effectively.

What happens when this technology can do the old things without us?

Jeremiah Owyang has been putting a lot of time and thought into a thesis:

“AI agents will surf the internet for us, conduct tasks, and bring the relevant information back to us —in the format that we want (not what advertisers and marketers want).”

The big impact of this idea is that websites need to be structured to interact with bots, not humans. The entire concept of UX changes when you're more focused on structuring data than enhancing user flows.

We talked about this a few weeks ago when we discussed the benefits of structuring FAQ content on your web pages. This thinking takes it a step further and changes the entire concept of a website.

Tim Hughes digs deeper into Jeremiah's thinking and how AI could kill websites and advertising.

NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARKETING, DESIGN, & AI

👩🏼‍🎨 Canva Design Trends for 2025

Canva has identified seven key design trends for 2025, blending nostalgic elements with technological advancements to create innovative visual experiences.

Analog Meets AI: This trend combines traditional design techniques with artificial intelligence, merging handcrafted textures and organic elements with AI-enhanced precision to produce unique visuals.
Shape Theory: Emphasizing bold, modular shapes and warm color palettes, Shape Theory balances nostalgia with modernity, creating structured yet approachable designs.
Opulence Era: This style merges minimalist aesthetics with luxurious details, utilizing rich textures and intricate patterns to convey understated glamour.
Serious Fun: Blending professionalism with playful elements, Serious Fun introduces humor and casualness into traditional design, reimagining professional visuals with a joyful twist.
Future in Motion: Incorporating dynamic motion elements, this trend adds rhythm and energy to designs, enhancing engagement through animated components.
Refined Grit: Celebrating imperfections, Refined Grit combines raw, textured surfaces with elegant details, embracing authenticity and character in design.
Mechanical Botanical: This trend harmoniously blends natural elements with iridescent colors, creating designs that juxtapose organic forms with mechanical aesthetics.

These trends reflect a fusion of human creativity and technological innovation, offering diverse approaches for designers to explore in the coming year.

Discover more

🤖 Google CEO: Over a Quarter of New Code Is Generated by AI

Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed during the Q3 earnings call that more than 25% of new code at Google is now created by AI and then reviewed by human engineers. The use of AI in coding is part of the company’s strategy to improve productivity and efficiency while advancing its AI capabilities.

• Efficiency Gains: AI-generated code allows engineers to work faster and focus on higher-level tasks, streamlining product development.

• Internal AI Model: Google’s “Goose,” trained on 25 years of engineering expertise, exemplifies how AI is transforming internal processes.

• My Take: Not good. AI should be used to enhance work. Unfortunately, many companies are going to use it to reduce costs (headcount).

Keep reading

🐻‍❄️ Coca-Cola’s AI-Generated Christmas Ad Sparks Discussion

Frank Prendergast on LinkedIn highlights Coca-Cola’s new AI-generated Christmas ad, a creative experiment combining AI and traditional storytelling to craft a festive campaign. The ad leverages generative AI to produce visuals and narratives, aiming to push boundaries while maintaining the holiday spirit.

• AI Meets Tradition: Coca-Cola blends generative AI with classic holiday themes, showcasing AI’s potential in storytelling.

• Mixed Reactions: While some praise the innovation, others question the emotional depth and authenticity of AI-driven creativity.

• My Take: I wonder what the reaction would have been had it not been revealed to be AI generated? Thanks to Greg St. Martin for also bringing this to my attention.

Keep reading

🌈 How Many Colors Can You Name?

A new research initiative has created a game that allows people to try to name as many colors as possible.

The purpose of the study is to better understand how people see and interpret colors across demographics such as location and age

• My Take: I was in the top 10% when I tried it. Let me know how you did!

Try now!

NEW RESOURCES FOR YOU

Survey: Designers Embrace AI with Caution, Resulting in Positive ROI

Curious to know how designers are adapting to AI? Santa Cruz Software recently conducted a survey of 400 designers to find out.

It turns out that 98% said that AI has changed their daily workflow. The positive part is that 91% of those have seen a positive ROI due to AI.

Other items addressed in the survey include:

Desire for AI to help with client communications (51%)
Sentiment on claiming AI as their own work (59% completely comfortable)
Junior designers (52%) are much more likely to favor using AI versus senior designers (41%) and directors (33%).

You can read more about the survey results (and a handy infographic) on Santa Cruz Software's site.

Thanks to David Haefele at 43PR for submitting this article.

Design Quote of the Week

"To design is to communicate clearly by whatever means you can control or master."
– Milton Glaser

My AI disclaimer: I write the main stories by hand (with occasional assistance from Grammarly). The quick news hits are articles I've found, which I run through a ChatGPT prompt to generate the synopsis and bullet points. However, I write the My Thoughts bullet. If AI generates the images, I include the prompt so you can see how I got to that image. Nothing in this newsletter, or anything I publish anywhere, reflects the views of my employer.