About this report
AI in Design 2026 is the second annual research project from Designer Fund and Foundation Capital on how design teams are working with AI.
Last year, we launched the first edition of the report—one of the most widely shared resources in 2025 about AI’s impact on design in tech.
Now, after the releases of new models and a swath of new tools, we ask the same questions: Which AI tools are design teams using most? What does a typical design workflow look like today? Are hiring criteria and org structures shifting in any meaningful way? We wanted to find concrete, usable answers.
This report was created for design leaders making decisions on tooling, policies, and adoption; designers thinking about how their craft and careers should evolve; founders and product teams looking to understand how AI is changing how design gets done; and students and educators preparing for what’s next.
Research supported by
This research was made possible by our partners, seven companies that shared how their design teams are working with AI today. Each partnered with us on an in-depth case study, created through filmed interviews and live workflow demos.
Anthropic
Framer
Linear
Notion
shopify
sierra
stripe
Designer Fund invests in early-stage startups that use design to improve health, sustainability, and prosperity for all. We back founders who treat design as a strategic advantage and help them build world-class teams, craft standout products and brands, and connect with a powerful community of designers.
Our investments include Stripe, Notion, Gusto, Linear, Commure, and Framer.
Foundation Capital is a first-check investor built to support extraordinary technical founders as early as possible — often before there's revenue, product, or a line of code.
Driven by deep conviction, we partner from day zero, helping founders make defining early choices and navigate their toughest challenges. For thirty years, we've stood beside builders who envision futures that seem impossible until they become inevitable.
MADE BY
This project was created through collaboration between researchers, writers, and designers across multiple teams.
METHODOLOGY
For press inquiries, partnership opportunities, or questions about the research hello@designerfund.com
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