Meet&CoLAS VEGAS — From productivity gains to creative concerns, interior designers are navigating a careful balance with artificial intelligence. These opportunities and challenges were explored during a panel discussion at the recent Las Vegas Market, where industry leaders shared how AI is shaping their daily work.
The panel featured Christopher Grubb of Arch-Interiors Design Group, Jeanne Chung of Cozy, Stylish, Chic, and Jessica Nelson and Stephanie Lindsey of Etch Design Group. The session was moderated by Laurie Laizure, founder of the Interior Design Community.
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Laizure described AI as a powerful efficiency tool that allows her to focus on design rather than administration. She uses automation to assist with blog creation, optimize content for AI-driven search platforms, and repurpose popular community discussions into social media posts.
Nelson echoed the productivity benefits, emphasizing AI’s strength in handling repetitive, behind-the-scenes tasks. She encourages design firms to evaluate where teams spend the most time on routine work, noting that automation can often eliminate those inefficiencies.
However, panelists warned designers to be cautious when sharing sensitive or proprietary information with AI platforms, as data removal is not always guaranteed.
Nelson and Lindsey noted that AI can be especially helpful in early project stages, such as organizing client inputs. For example, multiple Pinterest boards can be analyzed to identify common themes, preferences, and stylistic patterns, helping designers better understand their clients without replacing creativity.
Concerns about originality were also raised. Grubb expressed hesitation about AI-generated prompts, warning that overreliance could lead to repetitive specifications and reduced product differentiation across the industry. While he values AI-generated options that can be refined, he stressed the importance of authenticity in both design and product development.
Chung agreed that AI should support, not override, a designer’s personal voice. She emphasized the importance of adapting technology in ways that align with individual branding and communication styles. She also advised designers to verify specifications and links generated by AI, while acknowledging its growing ability to identify inconsistencies in measurements and layouts.
When it comes to content creation, panelists noted that AI-generated writing can sometimes reveal itself through predictable patterns. Nelson suggested that careful prompt customization can help reduce these signals and produce more natural results.
Beyond mainstream platforms such as ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, and Gemini, the panel highlighted emerging tools designers are beginning to explore. These include FYXER for advanced email writing, as well as Archsynth and Nana Banana Pro, which can convert images into detailed 3D visualizations.
“Clients increasingly expect immersive, three-dimensional presentations,” Chung said, noting that realistic renderings—especially those incorporating actual furniture—can significantly raise client expectations and engagement.
