Artificial intelligence is changing quickly – and the design industry is taking notice. Over the past year, I’ve seen a wave of excitement around tools that use text prompts or moodboards to generate interior visuals. It’s fast, often beautiful, and undeniably clever.
But there’s an important conversation that’s not being had often enough: just because we can generate an image, doesn’t mean we’ve solved the client’s problem.
Because interior design isn’t just about visuals – it’s about making decisions that work in the real world. And that’s something no shortcut can replace.
A rendered image isn’t the design
One of the biggest misconceptions I see in this space is the idea that a rendered image is the design. But in reality, an image is just the final layer. Before you can render anything, you need a concept. Before you have a concept, you need a clear understanding of the space. And before you can build trust in your choices, you need to test ideas, refine, and explore options that are grounded in your actual home.
In my own process, 3D modelling is more than just a way to generate visuals – it’s how I design. Every element is modelled to scale, with accurate measurements that reflect how your home actually works. It’s not linear. There’s trial and error. Instinct. Adjustment. I test layouts, materials, and spatial flow – not because a client asked for it, but because I can see the friction points they might not have words for yet.
It’s worth clarifying here that 3D modelling and rendering aren’t the same thing. Modelling is the construction phase – the building of your space digitally, down to real dimensions, proportions, and materials. Rendering is only the last step, where lighting and texture are added to achieve a photorealistic image. AI-generated visuals often aim to replicate that final render – but without the detailed model and design behind it, the result is just surface-level.
There’s a difference between designing and directing
When I work in 3D modelling software, the design flows directly from my brain to my hands. I’m shaping the space as I think – adjusting layouts, testing proportions, making decisions in real time. It’s dynamic, fast, and intuitive. AI, by contrast, adds distance. You have to pause, translate your idea into a prompt, and then wait to see if it understood you. It’s clunky. Even when it gets close, changing one detail often breaks another. It turns a fluid process into a frustrating one – and in the end, it’s not faster. It’s just more complicated.
AI will undoubtedly improve – and may eventually offer more precision. But the core challenge remains the same: you still need a strong design vision and a way to communicate it clearly. Whether you’re using AI or working directly in modelling software, it comes down to how well you can drive the tool. I use AI myself in small, behind-the-scenes ways – like generating the header image for this blog – but when it comes to real design, visuals are only as valuable as the thinking behind them. In either case, good design still takes time.
Why realistic visuals matter
When you’re investing in a renovation or new build, one of the most important parts of the process is managing expectations – and that starts with how ideas are communicated. Moodboards can be a great way to explore tone and direction, and I use them in my process to support the overall concept. But they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
What I’ve learned – through years of working with people, both in design and beyond – is that once you see a visual, it tends to stick. Even if you’re told it’s just a general idea, it’s natural to picture it as the end result. And if that image isn’t grounded in your actual space, proportions, and context, it can quietly shape expectations that the real design was never meant to deliver.
That’s why the visuals I share are built from your actual home, shaped through a design process that’s grounded and considered. Because it’s not just about making something look good – it’s about making sure what you see, and what you get, feel aligned every step of the way.
The future is likely a blend – not a bypass
While there’s a lot of talk about AI replacing traditional tools, I believe the real shift will happen when artificial intelligence is integrated into professional design software – enhancing what’s already working, rather than starting from scratch. That means designers who already understand space, flow, and modelling will likely benefit the most – using AI to speed up workflows, not replace them. So while the tools will keep evolving, the skill of thoughtful, spatial design will still be at the core. And that’s not something I see disappearing anytime soon.
Design is still decision-making
In my current process, I don’t use AI to generate room designs – not because I’m resistant to change, but because it’s not an improvement on what I can already deliver through direct modelling and thoughtful design. Every concept I create is developed from your real space, using real dimensions, and tested through a process that’s built around clarity and trust.
That may evolve over time – as the tools improve, I’ll continue to explore how they can support better outcomes. But no matter what method is used, the most important thing is this: design should help you make confident, informed decisions. It’s not about producing fancy images – it’s about solving the right problems, at the right time, with solutions that actually work for your home.
