AI-generated portfolio components are allowed but must be disclosed, firms say

AI · 4 min read

As generative tools become mainstream, employers confronted a surge in AI-generated mockups and microcopy. The prevailing response among design teams has been pragmatic: allow AI artifacts but require candidates to disclose tool usage and authorship.

Interviewers prioritize understanding the designer's contribution—prompt design, iteration strategy, curation, and final decision-making. Candidates who can articulate where AI helped and where their craft made the difference are viewed more favorably than those who present polished AI outputs without context.

Beyond ethics, disclosure helps employers assess skills that matter for the job: prompt engineering, prompt-refinement workflows, and quality control. Teams are formalizing policies and adding AI-authorship checkboxes to application forms.