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Ansh Mehra
Engineer, UX Designer, AI Educator, Content Creator
ππΌ 5 Questions
βπ Read Time: 6 minutes
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Meet Ansh Mehra, a trailblazer at the intersection of design and AI education. With a rich background as a UX designer and product marketer for companies like Swiggy and Zuddl, Ansh has carved a niche for himself in the digital world.
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Over the last three years, he has been at the forefront of delivering corporate trainings, workshops and seminars for top-tier institutions and companies across the globe. His expertise and insights have amassed a large following: Over 340k+ subscribers on YouTube and more than 48k on LinkedIn make him a sought-after voice in the industry. |
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Apeksha: Do you believe AI enhances or hinders creative thinking? Why?
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Ansh:
Our work is typically divided into two main areas: ideation and execution. Execution encompasses tasks that can be clearly defined and followed according to a set procedure. These tasks don't require significant human empathy but a straightforward adherence to guidelines. When a process can be precisely described, it's possible to automate it, and this is where AI can be highly beneficial.
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Conversely, tasks that necessitate empathy and an understanding of human psychology should not depend on AI.
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For instance, identifying common keywords across competitors' landing pages is a straightforward task that AI can efficiently handle. This involves visiting each competitor's website, reviewing the content, and pinpointing recurring keywordsβa perfect example of execution that AI can automate.
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However, when it comes to brainstorming how to make users comfortable with the concept of self-driving buses, this requires a deep understanding of human emotion, behavior, and psychology, areas where AI should not be relied upon. This is a clear example of ideation, where human insight is indispensable.
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Another critical distinction is how people use AI in the creative process. Some use AI to review their final drafts, which I find to be a less effective approach. Instead, AI should be utilized to generate initial drafts. This allows creative thinkers to refine and elevate the work, ensuring that the use of AI in execution supports rather than replaces human creativity.
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In conclusion, as creative thinkers, we must differentiate between tasks suited for execution and those requiring ideation. By leveraging AI for executional tasks, we free ourselves to focus on the creative and empathetic aspects of our work, where human insight is irreplaceable.
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Apeksha: In your opinion, what skills are essential for designers to effectively utilize AI in their projects?
Ansh:
Historically, humans were primarily compensated for their execution skills. However, as the cost of execution decreases with advancements in AI, the focus shifts towards developing specific skill sets. These include:
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1. Learning to define, refine, and prioritize problems: This skill is crucial for identifying the most pressing and relevant issues to address.
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β2.Mastering the art of prompting: Effective prompting involves the ability to provide clear context and constraints to guide the AI, highlighting the importance of strategic communication.
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3. Validating outputs from AI: This skill depends on deep subject matter expertise. Without a solid understanding of the subject, any AI-generated output may seem impressive. However, true validation requires the ability to critically assess and build upon the AI's work, based on a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
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4. Enhancing communication skills: Becoming an effective writer, speaker, communicator, and seller is paramount. Even with the best tools at your disposal, the ability to tell compelling stories, convey ideas clearly, and unite people around a vision is what sets individuals apart.
In the era of AI, those who excel in these areas will lead, leveraging technology not just for execution, but for enhancing creativity, decision-making, and storytelling.
"In the era of AI, those who excel in these areas will lead, leveraging technology not just for execution, but for enhancing creativity, decision-making, and storytelling."
Apeksha: Can you describe a project where you integrated AI into your process? What was the outcome?
Ansh:
A hundred percent! I frequently create content and often consult ChatGPT for advice on covering topics under specific titles. Sometimes, with up to 5-6 points to include, I seek ChatGPT's assistance in devising a memorable acronym to encapsulate the essence of my message, aiding in the creation of mental models and easy-to-remember frameworks.
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In addition, I've been utilizing a combination of Midjourney, Adobe After Effects, and Photoshop to enhance visual appeal.
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I've also leveraged ChatGPT for visual design feedback on my social media posts and designs by exporting JPEGs and seeking evaluations. T
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These tools have been instrumental in refining my content creation process.
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Apeksha: What advice would you give to young designers eager to incorporate AI into their design toolkit?
Ansh:
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For designers keen on integrating AI into their work, it's important to first concentrate on your health and mental clarity. Good nutrition and the ability to think and communicate clearly are fundamental. Without these, it's hard to make progress.
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Next, ensure you learn the basics of your field without relying on AI. This is similar to learning to drive a manual car before moving on to an automatic one. It's crucial to understand the manual processes thoroughly before you start relying on AI for assistance.
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After mastering the basics, the next step is to keep yourself updated. For instance - I regularly create content, follow other content creators, and stay in touch with the latest trends. Since the industry evolves quickly and the curriculum changes every 15 days, no skill remains relevant forever. Keeping up-to-date is essential for effectively incorporating AI into your design work.
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Apeksha: That's quite true! Moving onto the last one β what is creativity for you?
Ansh:β
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That's a tough question!
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In my view, creativity is a mix of several things. First off, it's about coming up with solutions within certain limits. If you can find impressive solutions given specific constraints and limited resources, that's a real mark of creativity. Creativity is essentially doing the most with the least.
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Another aspect is the ability to spot patterns, identify overlaps, and create something that feels new, even though it's essentially a remix of things that have existed before.
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There's nothing truly new under the sun, so creativity, to me, is about recognizing patterns, finding intersections, and combining elements in a way that seems fresh and unique. This creativity blossoms when we hone our ability to see patterns!
I hope you enjoyed reading Ansh's insights! π
Follow him on Instagramβ |β ββLinkedInββ | Youtube for more!
π¬ A quote and a question:
βThe future of global competition hinges on creative talent. In a world where everyone has access to amazing AI, it's the creative talent that distinguishes and defines us, turning talent into a team of explorers who solve problems using AIββ
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β Vivienne Ming, Socos Labs
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ππΌ A question to think about: Do you think of AI as a friend or a foe?
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βOver to you now! β¨
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p.s. - If you are a creative professional feeling stuck in your career, want to figure out your next move, build confidence, and overcome creative struggles, you can now book a 1:1 with me.β
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Thanks for reading. This is an honest, algorithm-free, completely reader-supported publication. If youβd like to support my work, share this with someone who may need it.
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Stay creative,
Apeksha
Right Brained Human
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