OXD’s User Experience and Service Design team members Jacqueline Antalik and Winnie Ho are leading a “Designing Alongside AI” workshop at the December 9, 2026 VanUE meetup. Working in small groups, participants will share and compare how they’re using AI in their design practice, grounding the discussion in real experience rather than speculation.
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.
Led by experienced OXD facilitators, groups will 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 looks 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 own 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 tends to fall short and still needs a human touch
- Have a shared vocabulary for spotting AI output that hasn’t even 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 event space generously provided by Best Buy Canada.
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
Location:
Best Buy Canada head office, 6th floor
425 W. 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1L3.