AI in Design: A Tool, Not a Shortcut

January 24, 2025

Last week, LGA dedicated one of our monthly all-office meetings to a lively discussion about AI—its current and future impacts on our industry, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

We started with an open forum where our team shared how they’re using AI today and what they see on the horizon. Sure, AI can generate hundreds of parking lot iterations in seconds, but the conversation quickly shifted to deeper questions. Should we even have that much parking? How do we ensure that the convenience of AI doesn’t stop us from asking the critical “should” questions—like rethinking what parking means and how we approach transportation altogether?

AI can assist by identifying coordination issues and streamlining documentation, saving significant time during design and production. However, the responsibility for accuracy ultimately rests with the professional—a free-thinking human—who carries both a contractual and moral obligation to uphold the highest standards for our clients.

AI isn’t the enemy. It’s a tool—one that can free up time for us to focus on what matters most: thoughtful design and meaningful questions. The challenge lies in how we choose to use this time. It’s up to us to slow down, think bigger, and use AI as a partner in creating a better future.