Creative director Raissa Pardini on unlearning productivity and perfectionism in the age of AI
By
Abbey Bamford
Not artisan, but a perfectly fine bagel. Hits the spot.
Summary
Creative director Raissa Pardini reflects on her journey of unlearning productivity-driven design habits and perfectionism in the age of AI. She describes feeling like a machine herself during her career—efficient but disconnected—and how leaving design helped her rediscover what makes human creativity unique. The article argues that as AI takes over technical execution, designers must unlearn rigid rules and reclaim the messy, emotional, and imperfect aspects of creativity that machines cannot replicate.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledIf a machine could create something beautiful, does it matter if it never felt anything while doing it?
I was efficient, productive and technically good. I was doing everything I had been taught to do: following the rules, applying the methods, learning from the designers before me.
On paper, it worked, but in reality, it didn't, and – eventually – I left design for a number of years.
You might also wanna read

Front Design Founders Discuss AI's Impact on Design Profession and Human Qualities
Front design studio founders Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren discuss how AI is prompting designers to reconsider their core value and uni
Why designing for AI should embrace the unfinished, handmade spirit of the 1999 web
The article draws a parallel between the early, experimental, handmade web of 1999 (exemplified by the Hamster Dance) and the current state
uxdesign.cc·2d agoA design engineer's crisis: Quitting tech amid AI disillusionment
A design engineer reflects on quitting their stable, well-paying tech job amid growing disillusionment with the industry's direction, partic
A design engineer's crisis: Quitting tech amid AI disillusionment
A design engineer reflects on quitting their stable, well-paying tech job amid growing disillusionment with the industry's direction, partic
Designing Without Figma: A Letter from the Future Self
A letter from the future self discusses designing without traditional UI tools like Figma, emphasizing creativity and innovation.

The Evolving Role of UX Designers in AI-Accelerated Workflows
The article discusses how UX design is evolving in the age of AI, with designers transitioning from creators of outputs to directors of inte
Why I'm Choosing Not to Learn AI: A Personal Reflection on Tech Pressure
The author pushes back against the common tech industry refrain that everyone must learn AI or be left behind. They share a personal story a
