Designers… let’s be honest. AI still feels weird for a lot of people in the industry. Some are overwhelmed. Some are skeptical. Some feel behind. Some are quietly experimenting and pretending they’re not.

And then you have Studio Dumbar/DEPT® — one of the most respected studios in the world — walking straight into the unknown with curiosity, play, and zero fear. Studio Dumbar uses AI as an early-stage exploration tool—paired with coding and strong taste—so outputs get curated, refined, and brought back into a craft-led design process.

Inside the Creative Futures Hub, we hosted a live conversation with Sander Sturing, creative technologist, coder, and long-time experimenter at Studio Dumbar. And the way he spoke about AI wasn’t hype, wasn’t doom, and wasn’t “prompt your way to greatness.”

It was human. It was grounded. And it was the kind of mindset designers need right now.

Before we dive in, a quick note: If you want to watch the full recording (and all AI talks inside the VIP Hub), you’ll find the link at the end.

Why designers panic about AI — and why Studio Dumbar doesn’t

Most designers were taught to control every detail: the grid, the spacing, the typography, the craft. AI threatens that sense of control — and that’s where the anxiety lives.

But Sander pointed out something powerful: Studio Dumbar has been working with systems that embrace unpredictability for years.

Coding.
Generative systems.
Motion.
Noise fields.
Simulations.

These tools already operate in the space between control and chaos. So AI doesn’t feel like an intruder — it feels like another member of the family.

As Sander put it (lightly polished):

“Coding gives you total control. AI gives you almost none. We work in both spaces, so AI doesn’t feel scary — it feels familiar.”

That line hit the entire room. Because it explained something no one says out loud: It’s not that AI is the problem — it’s that designers aren’t used to letting go.

Studio Dumbar. Yes we use AI — Sander from Studio Dumbar presenting for the Creative Futures Hub community

The creative tension: control vs chaos

Every great studio has a philosophy, a way they approach the unknown. For Studio Dumbar, the sweet spot is this: ✨ When you let the system surprise you, new possibilities appear. ✨

Coding gives precise outcomes. AI gives unpredictable outcomes. And Dumbar thrives in the space where both collide.

This is the mindset shift designers need most right now:

You don’t have to control everything.
You don’t have to love every output.
You don’t have to become an “AI expert.”
You just have to be open to creative expansion.

As Sander said:

“AI shouldn’t replace the design process. It should be part of it.”

No hype. No shortcuts. Just another way to push ideas further.

How Studio Dumbar actually uses AI in their workflow

This part was refreshing because it wasn’t about “Look how fast AI can make something.” It was about intentional experimentation.

Here’s how Dumbar integrates AI:

They use AI early to open up visual exploration

Not as a final output — but as a way to expand the creative range before choosing a direction.

They combine AI with coding

Code = structure, AI = surprise, Together = unexpected results worth refining.

They use AI to expand capability, not replace craft

AI isn’t used to shortcut the work. It’s used to push ideas they wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

They know where AI doesn’t belong

Taste still matters. Restraint still matters. This is what separates good work from “AI mush.” Dumbar uses AI like a pencil, not a press release.

What designers can learn from Studio Dumbar’s mindset

This entire talk could be distilled into one lesson: ✨ Curiosity beats control. ✨ The designers who thrive with AI won’t be the ones who master every tool.

They’ll be the ones who stay open, playful, experimental — even when things feel uncomfortable. Here’s what Dumbar models beautifully:

Try things outside your comfort zone
Let yourself be surprised by the process
Use tools intentionally, not reactively
Don’t fear the unknown — design inside it
Craft still matters more than technology

This is the creative mindset the future of design is built on.

Q&A: What designers really want to know

Q: Do you need to know coding to work with AI?

A: No. But understanding systems-thinking — how tools behave, how parameters shift outcomes — makes AI feel far less unpredictable.

Q: Does Studio Dumbar use AI for client work?

A: Yes — strategically and intentionally. Not as a replacement for designers, but as part of their exploration phase.

Q: Where does AI not belong in the process?

A: Anywhere that needs emotional nuance, craft, storytelling, or taste. AI supports creativity — it doesn’t define it.

Q: Will AI take design jobs?

A: Not the jobs rooted in thinking, taste, experimentation, or visual intelligence. But it might replace rigid workflow patterns that leave no room for play.

Q: Why is Studio Dumbar so comfortable with AI?

A: Because they’ve been working inside unpredictable systems for years. AI is just another version of creative uncertainty — something they already embrace.

Q: How can designers start experimenting without getting overwhelmed?

A: Start small. Try one tool. Give yourself permission to explore without pressure. You don’t need to “be good at AI.” You just need curiosity.

Watch the full Studio Dumbar talk inside the VIP Creative Futures Hub

If you couldn’t join live, the replay is now available — along with every AI talk we’ve hosted inside the Hub.

WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE VIP CREATIVE FUTURES HUB

Inside, you’ll get:

the full Studio Dumbar recording
AI talks from Josephmark and RunwayML and more
a global community of creatives learning together

If you’re serious about understanding how AI fits into the future of design — this is the room you want to be in.

HOW STUDIO DUMBAR USES AI: WHAT DESIGNERS CAN LEARN FROM THEIR CONTROL VS CHAOS MINDSET