How AI Is Reshaping the Web Design Industry – A Personal Reflection

In 2015, I completed a design bootcamp at Yoobee School of Design (now Yoobee College of Creative Innovation) and started freelancing. Back then, websites were built with code. We learned HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Every page was handwritten and every update was manual. It was rewarding, but it was slow. You had to know the ins and outs of front-end code just to get a simple site up and running.

Later, I started using WordPress. It was a game-changer. With pre-built themes and plugins, I could move faster, focus more on layout and content, and hand over complex development tasks to specialists. WordPress made it easier to deliver more value, especially for small business clients.
Then came platforms like Wix, Shopify, and Webflow. These tools shifted the focus again. With visual builders and drag-and-drop interfaces, the barrier to entry dropped even further. You no longer needed to know code to build a professional-looking site. For designers, it meant we could work smarter and move quicker. For clients, it meant shorter timelines and better results.
But none of those shifts compare to what’s happening now.

AI is changing everything.

Today, tools like ChatGPT help draft web copy that sounds natural and fits the brand voice. Tools like MidJourney can generate custom graphics, hero images, and logos on the fly. Lovable lets us build actual web components and layouts with text prompts. AI agents like Lindy can monitor your WordPress site, auto-update plugins, flag issues, and even help with content tasks.

AI is no longer just a side tool. It’s involved in every stage of the workflow. Research. Planning. Design. Content. Development. Testing. Maintenance.
That’s why I built Kiwi Web Design as a new-generation, AI-first agency.
Our approach is built around AI from the ground up. That doesn’t mean we don’t use WordPress or custom themes anymore. It means we integrate the best of both worlds. We use AI to speed up the boring stuff, so we can focus on our clients and relationship building. It allows us to deliver agency-level quality at a fraction of the traditional cost.

For small businesses, this is a massive opportunity. You get better websites, faster and more affordably. For us, it means we can stay lean, stay sharp, and do work that actually moves the needle.

The web design industry is being reshaped, not just by new tools, but by a new mindset. One that’s focused on speed, accessibility, and innovation.
I’ve been through every phase of this evolution. From hand-coding HTML in a text editor to designing full websites with the help of AI agents. And I can say this with confidence: we’re only just getting started.

If you want to see what an AI-first website can do for your business, I’m always happy to chat.