Is Web Development Dying? Inside information
Spoiler alert. Only if your entire personality is a Wix template.
Right. Designers. Let’s have a little group huddle.
Apparently, we’re done for. Finished. Shove your wireframes in the bin and kiss goodbye to client briefs because AI’s coming for our jobs and it’s bringing “Webflow integrations” and questionable colour palettes with it.
Except it’s not. So you can stop panic-Googling “careers for burnt-out creatives who hate maths”.
We've Heard This Before
Remember when Canva dropped and the internet lost its mind? “Graphic design is dead” they said. Meanwhile, we were still cropping out dodgy backgrounds, still battling with brands that think hot pink and lime green are a vibe, and still explaining why a logo can’t just be “bigger”.
This is the same thing. AI’s just the new kid in town. It’s shiny. It’s fast. It’ll write your content, design your site and probably offer you life coaching on the side. But does it actually connect with people? Not a chance.
AI Can Build Websites. So Can That One Client’s Nephew.
Yes. AI can knock out a website in about 14 seconds. Big whoop. So can Dave from HR with a Wix login and a Red Bull addiction.
The real question is whether it understands your client. Their brand. Their weird niche. The audience they’re desperately trying to reach while shouting into the void of Instagram reels and SEO trends they definitely don’t understand.
AI can guess. We know. We chat to clients. We decode vague voice notes that say “I want it to feel kind of like... optimistic but not cheesy?” and turn them into functioning sites that feel like someone cared!
There’s Clients. And Then There’s Clients.
Let’s be honest. Some clients will run full speed into AI’s arms. These are the same people who’d have picked a free template and called it “on brand” because it had a picture of a laptop and vaguely calming blue tones.
But the good ones? The ones who care about their business and actually want to resonate with people? They’re not outsourcing their brand story to a robot. Because they know that connection takes more than code and colour schemes.
It takes listening. It takes human instinct. It takes experience. It takes hearts to connect with hearts.
It takes hearts to connect with hearts.
Real People. Real Problems. Not Just Prompts.
Let’s take a real example. Coaching Focus Group is one of those clients who actually care about what their website says and does. I don’t just slap on a logo and hit publish. I manage their brand, their site and a whole load of the messy in-between. Yes, we use AI sometimes...for things like rough copy drafts or sparking ideas but it’s just a tool in the kit. Not the whole toolbox.
Their world is niche. Their message is nuanced. They work in leadership and employee engagement, which isn’t exactly the kind of thing you can brief in with “Make it inspiring but not cheesy” and let a bot run wild.
It takes conversation. Simplifying. Strategy. Sessions fuelled by actual human back-and-forth where ideas evolve from vague concepts into something real and resonant. AI can help shape it, sure. But it can’t understand it. And it definitely can’t lead it.
Just take a look at their employee engagement article. That didn’t come out of a box. That took time, collaboration, and design that actually reflected their voice. Not a generic template pretending to care.
Here is what 6 thought leaders had to say...
AI Enhances Web Design, Not Replaces It
For web design and development, there is a fork in the road. That fork has "AI" written all over it, but it's largely about our and our clients' professional expectations and aspirations.
That is, anyone setting high standards for the work they're doing or requesting will not yet get around investing in learning or paying for the crafts of web design and development.
For lower standards, AI will do. There is a different career here, and also a different corporate identity.
Web design and development are not to become obsolete any time soon, and there is still room for professionals to hone their skills, and businesses to make use of them.
Jens Oliver Meiert, Founder, Meiert Web Development & Consulting
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AI Tools Evolve Web Design, Not Replace It
Web development isn't dying—it's evolving. AI tools have revolutionized the way websites are built, automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes. But while AI can generate functional sites in minutes, it can't replace the strategic thinking, creativity, and human touch that make a website truly impactful.
AI is freeing designers from time-consuming technical work, allowing more room for creative exploration. Instead of getting bogged down by routine coding or layout adjustments, designers can focus on branding, storytelling, and crafting immersive user experiences. Thoughtful design choices, emotional resonance, and brand identity require a level of intuition and artistic insight that AI simply can't replicate.
As a designer, your ability to refine visuals, personalize interactions, and create a seamless experience is what sets you apart. AI enhances the craft, acting as a powerful tool rather than a replacement, helping designers push creative boundaries while maintaining efficiency.
Michael Carpenter, Graphic Designer, Founder, MC Design
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AI Assists, But Human Creativity Leads Web Design
I believe web development is not dying, but rather evolving in response to AI tools. While AI can quickly generate websites, it still lacks the depth of human creativity, problem-solving, and personalization that a skilled web designer brings to the table. AI might be able to generate a basic layout, but it struggles with understanding a brand's unique identity, user behavior, and user experience nuances that are key to crafting a truly effective website. As a web designer, I see AI as a tool to streamline certain tasks, like layout generation or coding assistance, but it doesn't replace the need for a designer who can create an emotional connection through visuals, storytelling, and interaction. Human creativity is still crucial in designing a website that not only looks good but is also intuitive, user-friendly, and aligned with a brand's strategy. AI will assist us in being more efficient, but it's the human touch that ensures a site stands out and meets the specific needs of users.
Georgi Petrov, CMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER
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AI Reshapes Web Design, Boosts Creativity
The emergence of AI tools for rapid website creation is reshaping web design rather than threatening it. These tools enhance productivity by automating routine tasks like coding and layout, allowing designers to concentrate on more creative elements, such as user experience and personalization. Thus, web development is evolving towards greater efficiency and innovation, highlighting the role of human creativity in the process.
Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo
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AI Assists, But Human Insight Drives Web Design
I don't think web development is dying. It's simply evolving.
Yes, there are now plenty of AI-based tools that let you build a website in five minutes. And for simple needs, that's enough. But when it comes to something more than just "having a site" - when it's about brand, user experience, and effectiveness - you can't do it without people.
At our company, we use AI. It truly saves time, especially on repetitive tasks. But that's only one part of the process. AI doesn't understand business context. It can't sense how a user will perceive the website, what will catch their attention, what will build trust. It doesn't think like a client. And that (human insight) - is what creates real value in a product.
That's why, in my opinion, web development isn't disappearing. It's getting deeper. Where there's strategy, creativity, and experience - AI still can't replace us. It can assist, but it doesn't lead. And that's the key.
Alexandr Korshykov, Founder & CEO, DreamX
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AI Aids Experts, But Can't Replace Them
AI is to web designers what the calculator was to accountants. If you don't understand what you're looking at, what questions to ask, what goals to accomplish, or why, AI will only create problems without providing good solutions on its own—problems that someone without experience won't know how to solve or even describe.
Just as AI has recently passed the bar exam and medical exams, making it an extremely useful tool for lawyers and doctors, it's almost useless to anyone who isn't already an expert in those fields.
Anyone skilled in UI/UX, programming, design, conversion optimization, or marketing strategy will quickly recognize this when using AI. It gets things wrong, acts for the wrong reasons, and always provides "some" answer, no matter how inappropriate. If you don't know why an answer is inappropriate, you won't know how to instruct it to fix the issue.
To be an effective attorney, doctor, or web designer, you need expertise in the field. To use AI in any of those fields, you also need expertise in AI. You must stack these skills rather than replace one with the other—it doesn't work otherwise.
If you're already an expert, AI is a huge help and time saver. It aids brainstorming, generating new ideas, implementing existing frameworks, and speeding up many processes that used to take much longer. However, much of that saved time shifts to fine-tuning the AI. In many cases, you'll still want, need, and know how to recreate everything it gives you from scratch.
AI won't have the breadth of experience to identify potential problems that come only with experience. Even though that information exists, if AI presented every possible negative outcome and alternative solution, the results would be endless. For designers specifically, for AI to replace designers, stakeholders would have to agree exactly on what they want, understand why they want it, and most importantly, be able to clearly articulate exactly what they want. We're safe.
Casey Whitcher, Founder, CWdynamic
Web Dev Isn’t Dying. It’s Just Shedding Its Skin (Again)
We’re not here pretending nothing’s changing. AI’s going to speed up a lot of stuff. And honestly, if it means fewer late nights writing HTML for buttons nobody clicks, I’m in.
But the core of this job? That weird mix of psychology, problem solving and pulling ideas out of chaos? That’s still alive. Very much so. And still needs people who get it. Not just people who prompt it.
So no. Web development isn’t dying. It’s just evolving a bit. Shedding the clunky bits. Keeping the soul.
