Designing on the Canvas, with Agents
This article argues that the biggest shift in AI design tools isn't better mockup generation—it's the emergence of agents that work directly on the design canvas, much like coding agents now operate inside code repositories. It maps the leading agentic design tools by where their agents live (canvas-native versus code-native) and contends that the most important strategic decision isn't which tool has the best AI, but where a team's source of truth resides: the design file, the codebase or the running product. Ultimately, the piece concludes that a well-structured design system has become the foundation of effective AI-assisted design, making workflow architecture—not flashy features—the key factor in choosing the right tool.