How I Use AI to Level Up My UI/UX (As a Self-Taught Designer) | Jay Singh Chauhan Blog — Jay Singh Chauhan

Let’s be real: I’m not a professional product designer. I don’t have a design degree, and I’ve never worked at a big agency. Most of what I know about UI/UX comes from YouTube, Twitter, and a lot of trial and error while building my own projects.

If you’re like me, you know the struggle: you have a great idea for an app, but as soon as you open Figma, you’re stuck. Your designs feel "stiff," your colors look a bit off, and you’re pretty sure you’re missing some basic UX rules you haven’t even heard of yet.

This is where AI has actually changed things for me.

I don't use it to "generate" my designs (those usually look like generic templates anyway). I use it as the mentor I don't have. Here is how I’m actually using it to learn and improve:

Where AI Actually Helps (The Learning Value)

1. The "What Am I Missing?" Pass

When you’re self-taught, you don’t always know what you don’t know. After I finish a simple design (like a sign-up form or a contact page), I’ll describe it to an AI and ask: "What are the 3 most common UX mistakes people make with this type of screen?"

It usually points out things I completely forgot:

"You didn't include a 'Forgot Password' link."
"There's no clear error state for when the email is already in use."
"The button is too small for a thumb on mobile."

It’s like having a senior designer looking over my shoulder, pointing out the obvious stuff I missed.

2. Breaking the "Blank Canvas" Fear

I used to waste hours just trying to figure out what sections a homepage should even have. Now, I use AI to brainstorm the structure.

I’ll say: "I’m building a portfolio page for a web dev. What are 5 sections that would actually make me look professional?" It gives me a list (Hero, Tech Stack, Featured Projects, etc.), and suddenly I have a roadmap. I still do all the design work in Figma, but I’m not starting from zero.

3. Making Copy Feel Less "Robotic"

My developer brain is great at logic, but terrible at writing "human" text. I used to just put "Submit" on every button.

Now, I ask AI for 5 different ways to write a Call-to-Action that sounds friendly but not annoying. It helps me move away from "system" language (like 'An error occurred') to something people actually want to read (like 'Oops, that email looks a bit off'). It makes my projects feel much higher quality than they actually are.

4. Learning the "Why" Behind Styles

If I find a color palette I like, I’ll ask the AI to explain why it works. "Why do these two shades of blue look better than the ones I picked?"

It might tell me about "color harmony" or "visual weight"—concepts I never formally studied. Instead of just copying and pasting, I’m actually learning the rules of design bit by bit.

5. Cleaning Up My "Developer" Layouts

As devs, we tend to align everything in a grid and call it a day, which can look a bit boring. I use AI to get ideas for visual hierarchy. I’ll ask: "How can I make this list of features more interesting than just a vertical list?" It might suggest using cards, different icon sizes, or varied background colors. It pushes me to try things I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

The Reality Check

AI isn't going to make me a world-class designer overnight. It still creates things that are "perfectly average," and it has no real sense of "taste."

If I rely on it too much, my designs start looking like everything else on the internet. But if I use it to check my work and teach me the basics, it helps me move much faster through the "beginner" phase.

The Verdict

If you’re learning design on your own, stop thinking of AI as a way to "skip" the work. High-quality design still comes from your own intent and decisions.

Instead, think of AI as a rubber duck that talks back. Use it to find your blind spots, to brainstorm when you’re stuck, and to explain the "why" behind the designs you admire.

AI won't replace designers. But it will definitely help people like us build stuff that doesn't look like a "developer designed it."

That’s a win in my book.

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