Let’s begin with a fundamental, almost philosophical question:
What is good design in the age of AI?
AI now creates outputs faster than most human designers can think. So what separates a good designer from a great one?
What do we, as humans, need to be? We must become a much better designer than AI, — not in speed or technical skill — but in our ability to lead.
We need to become the creative director of AI designers.
Not because we are better in technical skills, not because we are smarter or faster, but because we have that knowledge, sensitivity and intent to lead AI designer.
I’ve been practicing and teaching design thinking for years — helping people learn the methods and shift their mindset to design better experiences.
But in today’s context, the methods and mindset alone won’t set us apart. We need to look at what expand us as a creative leader beyond knowing the methods and having the mindset.
That expansion and growth comes from, not just method or mindset, it’s powered by ‘muscle’ — I’d like to call it ‘Design Muscle.’
What is Design Muscle?
Design muscle is your creative capacity — built through daily, consistent practice with intent.
Like physical training, you don’t get strong overnight. You show up, do the work, and slowly, something shifts. You start to see differently. Think differently. Work differently. Feel differently.
And just like building physical strength, as your design muscle grows, your creative capacity expands:
- You lift heavier: solving more complex problems
- You move better: becoming more efficient and effective
- You try new things: expanding your creative range and innovation capabilities
- You look and feel better: designing better experiences and growing creative confidence
Why Build Design Muscle?
We’re living in a world flooded with templates, instant outputs, and plug-and-play tools. But what sets creative leaders apart is the ability to sense, synthesize, and decide with discernment.
It’s not about what you know — it’s about what you train for.
That kind of strength comes from practice and repetition. It’s invisible work that builds visible impact.
The Five “Design Workouts”
Once I recognized the quiet but crucial role of design muscle, I began looking back at what had strengthened mine over time. Drawing from traditional design education — visual, product, and digital design — I identified five fundamental practices.
These are the muscle groups that are the foundation of design workouts that build your creative strength:
- Drawing muscle to synthesize : Sharpen your ability to observe, simplify, and make sense. Drawing isn’t about perfection — it’s about seeing the connection and capturing essence.
- Divergent muscle to stay curious: Cultivate your divergent thinking muscle. Expose yourself to stories, ideas, alternatives, and resist rushing to conclusions. This builds mental range and creative agility
- Convergent muscle to dig deeper: Don’t stop at the obvious. Keep asking “why.” This practice deepens empathy and sharpens critical thinking — transforming assumptions into insight.
- Prototype muscle to learn : Don’t overthink — move. Ideas grow through action. Prototyping builds momentum, encourages learning through doing, and embraces imperfection.
- Aesthetic muscle to sense : Heighten your aesthetic sensitivity. Surround yourself with great design — typography, layouts, spatial experiences. Ask: What makes it beautiful? What emotions does it evoke? This refines your taste and elevates your design judgment.
In the coming posts, I’ll unpack each of these design workouts in more detail. We’ll explore how to practice them, integrate them into your creative life, and build your strength — one rep at a time.
Which of these workouts speaks to you most right now?
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Reply or comment — I’d love to know where you’re building your design muscle.
Read on AIx Design Playground Series 🛝 on Medium
Train your design muscle with me at SMU Academy – Innovating Through Design Thinking.