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How Will AI Impact the Next Generation of Designers? — Speckyboy
AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini have only been around for a few years. Although many of us have become reliant on them, we still recall what life was like before they came around.
But what about future generations? For them, these tools will have always been an integral part of everyday life. Just as I can remember a time without smartphones, my teenage daughter can’t. She was born after the iPhone took the world by storm. Touchscreens and app stores are all she’s ever known.
I believe AI’s long-term impact will be even greater than the smartphone. We already see the technology infiltrating industries and education. Who knows where we’ll be by, say, 2030?
Many of us worry that AI will replace us at work and spread falsehoods. Those concerns are legitimate. However, I’m starting to worry about another issue: the devaluing of human creativity.
Creative industries such as design will feel the brunt of the impact. Here’s why the next generation of designers will inherit a much different world.
Artists Already Face Competition From Generative Tools
Generative models have improved their image-creating capabilities. Write a prompt, and within a minute or so, you’ll have an image matching your instructions. The process will only get faster.
The results aren’t always perfect. For example, I find ChatGPT’s model is inconsistent (and sometimes incoherent) with styling. But, after a few revision attempts, I often find myself accepting the output as good enough.
I now opt for AI-generated images instead of stale stock photography. It’s within reach and often a closer match to my needs. That’s both astonishing and a bit sad.
Yes, it takes less time to acquire a “passable” image. I don’t have to sweat over the details in Photoshop. Nor do I have to hire someone more talented to do it for me. In short, I’m willing to accept a lower-quality item because it’s easier.
I admit to being on the low end of the market. My graphic design skills aren’t the best, and I don’t have a budget for a professional. My turning to AI tools probably isn’t putting anyone out of work.
The danger is when companies that do have a budget for hiring professionals opt for AI. We’re already seeing that happen (to mixed results). More will surely come to the dark side.
Will New Designers Learn the Fundamentals? Will It Matter?
Traditionally, web and print designers learn about fundamentals. Philosophies regarding color, typography, and accessibility are crucial to producing quality work. Those lessons come from formal education and real-world experience.
But what do fundamentals mean in the age of AI? Quality control is not a strength of the current tools on the market. So, someone starting in design and using one of these apps may never get the opportunity to learn.
We’re seeing a similar trend in programming. For example, the ease of generating code has led to a significant uptick in WordPress plugin submissions. Now that “anyone” can code, the tenets of security and optimization could get lost in the shuffle.
There’s also a question about which tools future designers will use. ChatGPT’s text-based UI isn’t a design tool. However, Photoshop has integrated AI into the app, and it’s not alone. It seems like every major tool is jumping on the bandwagon. Project workflows could drastically change.
The boost in productivity is nice. However, we can generate assets without thinking twice about whether the result is any good. Such questions may never occur to a designer who hasn’t learned the fundamentals.
In a way, it’s reminiscent of the anything-goes 1990s. We built websites because they looked cool, regardless of whether they worked. Future generations may use AI without ever questioning the results.
Less Time to Create Something Beautiful
We humans aren’t the most patient of creatures. Thus, designers have always had to balance quality with project deadlines. AI might make the situation worse for creatives.
The ideal use for AI is as a helpful tool for generating small project assets or running utilitarian tasks. It’s a way to speed up the process while still relying on human know-how.
But some will undoubtedly give it an outsized influence. It’s not hard to imagine a stakeholder treating a designer as a mere prompt engineer. “We need this social graphic in the next five minutes. Just generate something. No, we don’t have time to worry about the font kerning.”
Project timelines may also be unreasonably accelerated. Clients will expect more productivity in less time and at a lower cost. Such thinking will give designers fewer opportunities to perfect their work.
That’s a shame, as it’s often the little details that make design stand out. Doing everything “fast and cheap” removes room for human creativity. Ironically, it also devalues an entire industry of professionals.
In this scenario, designers are no longer major contributors to a project’s direction. They become just another link in the supply chain.
Designers Gain Productivity While Losing Creative Control
The current crop of AI models can do some amazing things. Yet, they lack human logic and sensibilities. That makes them perfect for busy work, not creativity.
Regardless, continued technological advances and sales pitches will likely result in greater adoption. Similar to other technologies, stakeholders will be sold on the Utopian dream of a single tool that can do it all. Train AI on the law, and you’ll no longer need a lawyer. Train it on your branding materials, and you’ll no longer need a traditional designer.
The result is less space for an organic design process. You know, the thing designers are skilled at. The thing people spend thousands of hours learning and refining. The thing that sells everything from donuts to diamond rings.
I hope this won’t be the case, but I’ve seen this movie before. Perhaps, after a period of relying on machines, people will recognize the value of human creators and go back to them.
If not, the next generation of designers will play a much different role.
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20+ Best Resume Templates for Microsoft Word in 2025 — Speckyboy

Most designers would probably rather use Figma, Photoshop, or InDesign for creating a resume. That makes sense. Those applications give you more control over the layout and typography. But sometimes Word is just easier. It’s quick to open, easy to share, and doesn’t need any special software to view.
Word files are practical. They’re what most employers expect. And when used well, they look polished and professional. They’re clean, well-structured, and often thoughtfully designed.
They don’t try too hard. Fonts are balanced. Spacing is right. Sections are clear. Whether you’re applying to an agency or sending a PDF to a client, these Word resume templates give you a reliable base to build on and add your own creative flair.
Note: All of these resume templates are in Word format. But if you prefer working in a more creative application or need extra customization, you may also be able to edit them in Figma, Photoshop, InDesign, Canva, or Illustrator, depending on the template you choose.
Minimal Resume Templates for Word
These minimal templates will give you a clean foundation to build on. With no clutter or decoration getting in the way, these resume layouts focus on type, spacing, and structure.
They’re great for creatives who want full control over the design but still need a clear starting point. The layout is already solid, so it’s easy to adjust fonts or move sections around without breaking the template.
Modern Resume Templates for Word
These modern-style templates are helpful for designers who want a layout that already has a bit of visual rhythm. These files make smart use of alignment, modular blocks, and white space.
There’s room for short descriptions, links, and personal branding. For creatives who don’t want to build a resume layout step by step in Figma or InDesign, these Word templates offer a solid base.
Colorful Resume Templates for Word
These templates use color in a way that feels intentional and controlled. As a designer, you probably have strong opinions about color. These layouts give you something to react to and refine.
You can easily edit the palette to match your brand or remove it entirely if needed. Color is used to guide the eye and break up sections, not to decorate for decoration’s sake.
Corporate & Business Resume Templates for Word
These templates give you a framework that fits a business or corporate environment without feeling generic. You still get a well-organized layout with careful spacing and strong hierarchy, but without the creative styling that might distract in a more formal setting.
These templates are especially useful if you need to send your resume to a recruiter or upload it to a system that favors traditional formatting.
Why Word Still Works for Designers
Word isn’t flashy, but it gets the job done. You can open a file, make quick edits, and have something ready to send in minutes.
Hiring managers are used to Word and PDF resumes. They don’t need to ask how to open the file or deal with broken formatting.
Word always holds its structure. A well-designed template won’t fall apart when you update it. That matters when you’re working fast or applying for multiple roles.
You can always move your layout into InDesign or Figma later. But starting in Word keeps things simple. It gives you a working layout without any extra layers.
Conclusion
These templates aren’t meant to do the job for you. They’re just a starting point. You still need to put in the work. Write clearly. Keep it honest. Make sure your information is accurate and easy to follow.
You don’t need to design anything flashy. Clean beats clever. Let your experience speak for itself. Pick a layout that suits your work, adjust the text, export it to PDF, and that’s it, you’re ready to send!
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How to Refactor Your Outdated WordPress Code With AI — Speckyboy
Websites don’t age gracefully. Left unattended, they inevitably fall behind the latest best practices and technologies. We especially see the impact on sites built with WordPress.
It’s not that the content management system (CMS) is unstable – quite the opposite. It’s just that the software has been in existence for over 20 years. Thus, you’ll find old WordPress sites all over the interwebs.
Custom code is a common culprit. That snippet you wrote a few years ago may not work so well these days. It could be incompatible with the latest version of PHP, hinder performance, or contain security flaws. You might also be reliant on outdated JavaScript libraries or CSS techniques.
Part of bringing your site up to modern standards means refactoring outdated code. That can be a tough task, but you don’t have to do it alone. You can use AI tools to help identify and fix issues.
We’ll show you how AI can bring new life to old code. The result is a website that stays current and is better equipped for the future.
What AI Can and Can’t Do for Your Code
First, let’s set some reasonable expectations for refactoring code with AI. These tools can be helpful, but don’t expect miracles.
Consider the types of issues and the amount of code you share. For example, uploading an entire theme and asking AI to fix every error it detects won’t go very well. The large language models (LLMs) we’ve used lack context and can’t “think” in terms of a whole application. Remember, it doesn’t have the rational logic of a human programmer.
Instead, focus on a code snippet or a single file within a theme or plugin. A one-at-a-time approach usually yields the best results.
Also, be sure to provide as much information as possible in your prompts. Spell out your goals and any errors you’re experiencing in plain language. The more details you share, the more likely AI will be able to help.
It’s also worth noting that AI may not be up to date on the latest versions of WordPress, PHP, or other items. That great new technology that came out today won’t yet be included in the model. Keep that in mind when asking for help.
The right tool makes refactoring code easier. However, you’ll have more success treating it as a trusty sidekick rather than a superhero.
Improve Your Code’s PHP Compatibility
PHP versions are only supported for a limited time. Web hosts have also been known to abandon support for outdated code. Thus, a site built in the days of PHP 7.4 may not be compatible with 8.x or your web server. That could mean a broken feature or a site that refuses to load.
You can debug your site via a local WordPress install or a staging environment. Be sure to turn on WordPress debugging and track PHP errors. The error messages should provide clues to where the offending code resides.
Then, take these errors to your favorite AI tool and, one by one, try to resolve them.
We produced the above error when running an old theme in PHP 8.2. To solve it, we asked ChatGPT for help:
Our ChatGPT Prompt:
The following PHP snippet produces an error in PHP 8.2: "Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function create_function()"
Please make it compatible with PHP 8.2.
Our PHP Code:
add_filter( 'wp_title_rss', create_function( '$a', 'return "";' ) );
ChatGPTs Response:
The create_function() function was deprecated in PHP 7.2 and removed in PHP 8.0, which is why you're seeing this fatal error in PHP 8.2.
To make the code compatible with PHP 8.2, you should replace create_function() with an anonymous function using the modern closure syntax. Here's the updated version:
ChatGPT’s Code Output:
add_filter( 'wp_title_rss', function( $a ) {
return '';
} );
We edited our snippet to use the suggested code, and the error was fixed.
Modernize Your JavaScript
Does your legacy site suffer from old and bloated JavaScript? AI may have the perfect antidote.
Scripts written five or more years ago are likely dependent on an old-school library. You might, for example, remember all the glory that was script.aculo.us. A recent query shows it hasn’t been updated since 2010. Yikes!
WordPress bundles jQuery, which is still maintained. That doesn’t mean your custom scripts are using the latest code, though.
Even if an old script works, there are likely more efficient and secure options available. It might hinder performance or make it easier for a hacker to exploit your site.
AI can help you refactor your scripts to use newer libraries. You might also consider switching to vanilla JavaScript, which is more powerful than ever.
In this example, we asked ChatGPT to convert a jQuery script to vanilla JS. The script adds or removes a CSS class depending on a user action.
Our ChatGPT Prompt:
Please convert this jQuery script to use vanilla JavaScript instead:
Our jQuery Code:
jQuery(document).ready(function() {
jQuery("#sticky-sidebar").addClass(localStorage.getItem('savestickysidebar')) ;
jQuery('#sticky-sidebar-toggle').on('click', function() {
jQuery('#sticky-sidebar').toggleClass('hidden');
if(jQuery('#sticky-sidebar').hasClass('hidden')){
localStorage.setItem('savestickysidebar', 'hidden');
}
else{
localStorage.removeItem('savestickysidebar');
}
});
});
ChatGPT heeded our call for an independent script.
ChatGPTs Response:
Here is the vanilla JavaScript equivalent of your corrected jQuery code:
ChatGPT’s JavaScript Output:
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
var sidebar = document.getElementById('sticky-sidebar');
var savedClass = localStorage.getItem('savestickysidebar');
if (savedClass) {
sidebar.classList.add(savedClass);
}
var toggleButton = document.getElementById('sticky-sidebar-toggle');
toggleButton.addEventListener('click', function() {
sidebar.classList.toggle('hidden');
if (sidebar.classList.contains('hidden')) {
localStorage.setItem('savestickysidebar', 'hidden');
} else {
localStorage.removeItem('savestickysidebar');
}
});
});
Converting this script gives us one less jQuery dependency to worry about. AI made the process that much easier.
Give Old Code a New Lease on Life
Refactoring your WordPress site’s code is part of a good maintenance routine. It keeps your site safe, performant, and functional.
In days past, these tasks could be painfully difficult. You had to research, test, and write a fix. PHP and console errors were helpful, but manual labor was still required. You might spend days or weeks obsessing over a piece of unruly code.
AI tools have the potential to shorten the entire process. They can often tell you what’s wrong and how to fix it. Even if their first answer doesn’t get you 100% of the way there, they usually point you in the right direction.
So, don’t be afraid to dig into that old code. A few prompts might be all you need to give it a fresh coat of paint.
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20+ Best Free Food Icon Sets for Designers — Speckyboy
Food icons are used everywhere. You’ll see them on restaurant menus, mobile apps, food blogs, delivery sites, and product packaging. They help make content easier to follow, add a bit of character, and guide users through information without needing much explanation. When designed well, icons support the layout without getting in the way.
If you’re working on a food-related project, building every icon from scratch usually isn’t the best use of time. Free icon sets can help speed up the process and maintain design consistency. You get a ready-made foundation to build on, which is especially useful when you’re under a deadline.
This collection shares a selection of free food icon sets worth keeping on hand. Each one has been picked for quality, style, and usefulness. Whether you’re designing something simple or more detailed, you’ll likely find something here that helps you get the job done faster and better.
Free to Download | 100 Icons in EPS, SVG & PNG Formats
23 Icons in AI, EPS & SVG Formats
Free to Download | 15 Icons in Illustrator AI Format
50 Icons in EPS, PNG, PSD & SVG Formats
Free to Download | 40 Icons in Figma Format
25 Icons in PNG, SVG, EPS, AI & Figma Formats
Free to Download | 30 Icons in AI, EPS, SVG & PNG Formats
40 Icons in SVG, AI, EPS, PNG & Figma Formats
Free to Download | 25 Icons in Figma Format
25 Icons in AI, EPS, PNG & SVG Formats
Free to Download | 25 Icons in AI, EPS, SVG & PNG Formats
50 Icons in PNG, PSD, EPS & SVG Formats
Free to Download | 25 Icons in AI & EPS Formats
40 Icons in AI, EPS, SVG & PNG Formats
Free to Download | 20 Icons in Figma Format
20 Icons in EPS, PSD, SVG & PNG Formats
Free to Download | 20 Icons in Illustrator EPS Format
Free to Download in Figma Format
Free to Download 20 Icons in Sketch & Figma Formats
Free to Download in Illustrator EPS Format
Free to Download | 30 Icons in Figma Format
Free to Download | 12 Icons in Illustrator AI Format
Free to Download | 50 Icons in Illustrator EPS Format
Free to Download | 20 Icons in SVG Format
Free to Download | 22 Icons in SVG & PNG Formats
Free to Download | 90 Icons in Figma Format
Free to Download | 80 Icons in AI, EPS, SVG & PNG Formats
What to Look for in a Good Food Icon Set
Style matters. Icons in the same set should match. That means using a consistent look, like outline, filled, flat, or line-based. If the style is mixed, it can make your layout feel disjointed.
Pay attention to the file formats. SVG and PNG are the most common and work well across many platforms. If you use design software like Illustrator (AI & EPS), Photoshop (PSD), Sketch, or Figma, it helps if the set includes files you can open and edit directly.
Always check the license. Some icon sets are only free for personal use. Others are cleared for commercial work. It’s best to know upfront so you don’t run into problems later.
Think about variety too. A good food icon set should include more than just one or two items. Look for icons that cover different types of food, drinks, kitchen tools, and any other food related items.
Final Food Icon Thoughts
Free icon sets can still be high quality. Many are created by professional designers and made available for public use. If you come across a set you like, bookmark the source. Having a few trusted libraries makes future projects easier to start.
Try to keep your icons consistent throughout a design. Mixing styles across different sets rarely works out. It’s usually better to stick with one well-made pack that covers everything you need.
A small collection of reliable, free food icon sets can save time and make your work look more polished. They’re useful to have, even if you don’t need them right away.
More Free Icon Sets
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