About This Project

This project is an effort to learn about the intersection of AI and design practice while building something useful for others. It is a work in progress and will continue to evolve.

The framework is based on John Maeda's Design in Tech Report 2026: From UX to AX, presented at SXSW 2026. The assessment maps where designers and UX researchers stand on two axes: AI automation level (SAE) and professional maturity (E-P-I-A-S). Thank you, John, for creating this framework and for your continued feedback that has shaped how this tool has evolved.

Version 1: The Grid

The first version of the assessment placed participants on a 6×5 grid — SAE automation levels across the top, E-P-I-A-S maturity stages down the side. Each cell represents a combination of how much AI a designer uses and how mature their practice is.

162 participants

The grid revealed interesting patterns — most participants clustered in the L1–L2 range with Practitioner-level maturity. But John Maeda's feedback highlighted a critical gap: the assessment only measured the AI side of the equation. It was missing the "tree-shaped designer" concept and didn't capture L0 — the depth of a designer's core craft fundamentals. Without that foundation, the grid told only half the story.

Version 2: The Tree

John's tree-shaped designer concept provided the answer. The tree analogy works because it captures what the grid couldn't: roots matter as much as branches.

In the tree model, your roots represent craft depth — how deep your design fundamentals go. Your canopy represents AI breadth — how far your AI-augmented practice extends. The balance between them determines your tree's shape and resilience.

Taking what I knew of botany and real tree biology, I elaborated the metaphor further. Deep roots anchor wide canopies. Shallow roots make tall trees vulnerable to wind.

Take the v2 assessment to see your tree, or explore the community forest.

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