It has occurred to me slowly, inevitably, that my days as a designer are numbered. Most likely before I get within striking distance of retirement.
AI, man. Goddamn it. Like, of course.
Thinking back to when I first got started along the path, the 'beginner' software solution was either MS Publisher (clunky as hell) or Corel Draw (which was still relatively complex). There was a nice wide gap there for a specialist to sit down and make himself comfy. You had to know the software and know what you were doing to fit it all together. Not quite the same as lining up type specimens and working the copier like in the 80's and 90's, but still relatively involved.
Now look at it. Look at the last ten years, even. Now you have Canva and a host of other uber accessible solutions cropping up like weeds. MailChimp has a layout wizard. Then there's Wix and SquareSpace, coming with WYSIWYG editors paired to gorgeous templates.
And illustrators? They're the canary in the coal mine. Dall-E has already started siphoning off their precious freelance oxygen and will finish them off soon enough. Right now it's a cute gimmick, soon it'll become an essential tool, and then they'll be the only gig in town. They'll steamroll me and the rest of the industry to lay the foundation for another cost effective Software as a Service.
I mean, yeah, sure, the really good talents will find their places. There'll always be demand for the exceptional people at the edge of the industry. And some people will always seek the human touch, like how they buy "artisan soap" at the craft fair. Isn't it nice to have something made by direct humans input? Ain't it quaint? It's a far cry from an essential professional service.
There's been so much explosive progress made in my little professional corner of the world in the last ten years. Can you even imagine what will happen in ten more?
Here's the kicker, I have a solid 25-30 years before I get to even think about hanging up the tablet stylus and Adobe shackles. I can't fathom that the profession will look anything like it does now, but it probably won't be made to be accommodating to the trained professionals. It'll be easy to use for your average Joe and optimized for profits. It will not be for specialists.
Lately I've been feeling old, but this makes me stupidly, uselessly young. 25-30 years. Fuck. At some point, I'm going to get laid off and there simply won't be demand for me or my expertise. It won't happen in the next 5 years. Maybe in 10 or 15. But by that point I'll have to face the choice of minimum wage at WalMart or going back to school as a (very) mature student. To study what, welding? And then who's going to hire an almost 50 year old man with no experience?
The writing is on the wall, and it's in a striking typeface with beautiful kerning and a splash of colour. And it was put there by a robot.
I am filled with dread. I don't know what to do.
-Cril
Ophelia, she's 'neath the window for her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday she already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic she wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion, her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into Desolation Row
Bob Dylan - Desolation Row
