CASE STUDY · SAP · AI IN DESIGN

Leveraging AI
in the Design Process

Where AI adds real value — and where designers remain essential

At SAP, I spent a year exploring how AI fits into design. Working with the Intelligent Experiences team, I experimented with AI as both a client solution and a design tool. The core lesson: the explorer mindset matters more than any specific tool. Stay curious, test early, and know when to step back and apply craft.

Note: This case study was written in summer 2026, reflecting on AI work completed during 2025–2026. My conclusions and insights are specific to this time period. AI tools are evolving at unprecedented speed — what's true today may not be true tomorrow. Take these learnings as observations from this moment, not universal truths.

Role: Senior AI Product Designer
Timeframe: 2025–26
Company
Industry: Enterprise
Company Size: 110,000+ employees · 1,000+ designers

Diagram of the AI Design Exploration Loop: a six-step cycle — Explore, Experiment, Build, Evaluate, Refine, Share — around a central Designer + AI icon, framed by Collaborate and Impact callouts.

SituationHow Does AI Fit Into Design?

At SAP, we were encouraged to experiment with AI tools. In 2025, we explored Replit, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, V0, Lovable, and Figma Make. By 2026, unlimited Claude Code access shifted the question from "should we use this?" to "how do we use it well?"

TaskUnderstand Where AI Actually Helps

My job was to join the team — and the 1,000+ design team company-wide — in exploring how AI could accelerate the design process while keeping it true to the SAP design system. I needed to figure out: Where does AI actually help? Where does it create more work? What's the difference between using AI to speed up and using it thoughtfully?

ActionLearning from 1,000+ Designers' AI Experiments

At SAP, I was part of the Intelligent Experiences team, where we held weekly sharing and demo sessions to collaborate on AI experiments. I also participated in the company-wide AI Spotlight series, where designers across SAP shared their latest explorations. This dual environment gave me space to test tools: Replit, VS Code, OpenAI Agent Builder, Claude Code, Cursor, and Figma Make. I built tools from scratch, experimented with implementing Fiori components, and explored agentic workflows.

A critical discussion emerged: is prompt evaluation a UX responsibility? Principles began to form around how designers should approach prompt crafting and evaluation. This work made clear that AI is truly in its infancy.

OutcomesWhen AI Accelerates vs. When It Creates Illusion

Where AI Excels

Prototyping is transformative. It reduces iteration cycles and improves communication with engineers and stakeholders. Document creation — personas, use cases, guidelines — is faster with higher quality. Exploring visual directions and layouts works well when paired with Figma, creating a back-and-forth workflow.

Where Challenges Remain

Controlling how much AI produces and designing mockup refinement. AI generates a lot; shaping it requires craft.

The Real Skill

Mastery of any specific tool has a short lifespan as tools evolve too fast. What matters is knowing when AI genuinely accelerates work versus when it creates the illusion of speed.

Looking Forward

As teams cut corners with AI, design quality may emerge as a critical discipline where design skills and experience shine. My takeaway: keep exploring new tools, stay current with how AI impacts your work. We're in revolutionary times.

Diagram comparing the Traditional Design Process (Idea, Design, Prototype, Iterate, Final Solution) with the AI-Assisted Design Process, showing AI accelerates generation while human judgment and craft remain essential through evaluation and refinement.

Feedback from the TeamVoices from SAP

"I had the pleasure of working with Adriana over the past year and was consistently impressed by her expertise, adaptability, and leadership. She brings deep experience in Enterprise UX and Agentic Design. What truly sets Adriana apart is her strategic influence. She collaborates effectively with cross-functional teams around the globe, building alignment on initiatives that span multiple SAP product lines. Her ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, unite diverse perspectives, and drive a shared vision is exceptional."

Carmen Darlach

Design Leader at SAP

"Adriana is a lead designer who I had the pleasure of working with. She balances strategic thinking, design rigor, and collaboration professionally with laser focus on delivering positive outcomes. Adriana navigated complex, cross-functional work across global teams and aligned stakeholders toward displaying strong strategic thinking and execution. She consistently elevated quality while keeping solutions grounded in user needs and practical constraints."

Ana Manrique de Sevilla

VP, Design, Universal Experiences @ SAP

Leveraging AIin the Design Process