Designing Alongside AI

Note: Starts at 5:00 PM local Vancouver time / UTC−7

AI is changing how design work gets done, but many designers are figuring it out on their own and it’s hard to distinguish what's useful from what's hype. On December 9, 2026, VanUE is bringing that conversation into the open with a hands-on workshop for the Vancouver design community.

Working in small groups, participants will share and compare how they use AI in their work, grounding the discussion in practice rather than only theory. The heart of the workshop is peer exchange: what people are actually doing, what has and hasn’t worked, and where AI might not be the right tool at all. It’s also a chance to step back and reflect on the role of UX and service design practitioners, and on what remains distinctly human about the work designers do.

OXD's User Experience and Service Design team members Jacqueline Anatalik and Winnie Ho will lead the groups to explore:

• How designers are using AI tools like Figma AI, Cursor, Claude, and Google AI Studio in their daily workflow and research
• What has and hasn’t worked
• How to spot AI output that can look quite polished, but hasn’t been critically evaluated, and where judgment and accountability still sit with the designer
• How AI has changed the way designers see their value or role on a team, and which skills remain distinctly human

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Have a clearer picture of where they are in their AI journey compared to their peers
• Take away new ideas and processes to try, shared by fellow designers
• Know where AI falls short and a human touch is essential
• Have a shared vocabulary for spotting AI output that hasn’t been critically evaluated
• Leave with a grounded, non-hyped view of the UX and service design skills and judgment that AI can’t replace

Who should attend
The workshop is designed for anyone navigating the shift to AI-assisted design, especially those without much support in their current work environment. That includes solo designers or the only designer on a team, recent graduates entering the industry, and people transitioning into UX from other careers. Experienced practitioners are warmly welcome too; your perspective will add a lot to the conversation. Come ready to share your own experiences. If you haven’t had much chance to use AI tools yet, we encourage you to experiment with a few before the event, whether at work or in your personal life.

Event details

The event is hosted by VanUE, with space generously contributed at no charge by Best Buy Canada. To thank our speakers and help fund future events, we collect a nominal registration fee.

Photos will be taken during the evening and shared online. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let us know at check-in; we will let the photographers know where you are sitting and ask them not to include you in any pictures.

Event timing:
5:00 p.m. Sign-in
5:15 p.m. Introductions by Best Buy Canada and VanUE
5:30 p.m. Workshop starts
7:00 p.m. Workshop ends and book giveaway
7:15 p.m. Closing