Figma design lead: AI proficiency is now the hiring baseline

A decade ago, producing a prototype that felt like a finished product required significant technical skill and hours of manual labor. Today, Levin notes that designers can generate interactive mock-ups in record time. During interviews, he looks for evidence that applicants are actively experimenting with these new platforms rather than lagging behind industry shifts. However, this shift comes with a caveat: speed is no substitute for substance. Levin warns against relying on generic, AI-generated outputs that lack personal touch or critical problem-solving.

The core of the profession remains unchanged, as the designer's primary responsibility is to solve user problems with genuine craft. To demonstrate this, Levin encourages candidates to showcase their discarded ideas and failed prototypes. He believes that showing the iterative process—and the hundreds of versions left on the cutting room floor—is more revealing than presenting a single, polished win. By focusing on the journey rather than just the final, high-fidelity result, designers can prove they are not simply prompting their way to a solution, but actively shaping the work.