AI for design: use constraints to improve exploration

Write the problem

Identify the audience, required content and primary action. Include practical conditions such as screen size, brand palette and accessibility needs. Define what should attract attention first and which information should remain secondary.

Vary something meaningful

Explore layouts, hierarchy or illustration concepts while keeping essential requirements stable. Changing every variable at once makes comparison difficult. For a publication, compare how clearly each option helps readers choose a story rather than only how striking its hero looks.

Test with actual content

Use long headlines, narrow screens and realistic image crops. Inspect contrast, keyboard access and whether important controls remain usable. A layout that succeeds with short placeholder text may fail with the real article collection. AI can produce possibilities quickly; choosing among them still needs a reason tied to the reader’s task. Carry the selected direction consistently through details instead of combining unrelated attractive fragments. The result should feel coherent and remain understandable in everyday use.

Sources & notes

AI-assisted editorial content checked against the linked sources.

w3.org — official reference

Sources reviewed for the September 2026 launch edition.