Impact of the 2024 U.S. Election on AI, Tech, and Design Innovation
The 2024 Election Could Transform Your Career! Stick with me until the end to uncover how policy changes could impact your daily work and reshape design standards on a global scale.
Every election brings promises of change, but for the tech industry and design professionals bracing for impact, the 2024 election could redefine the industry landscape. The new administration could either lead to a chokehold or rapid expansion of the entire tech industry. From AI regulation to data privacy and the push for innovation, what hidden risks might emerge — and how can you get ahead of them?
Chapters
Adapting to Evolving Regulations and The Current State of Tech and Design
Impending Policy Shifts: How the 2024 Election Could Disrupt Tech Industry Practices
The 2024 Election Will Reshape UX/UI Design: Prepare for an AI Paradigm Shift
Data Privacy Overhaul: Looming Election Threatens UX/UI Design Norms
Global Tech Landscape Hinges on U.S. Election Outcomes
How the 2024 Election Will Impact UX/UI Designers: Trends and Industries to Watch
Top 10 Technology Trends to Watch in 2025 for Designers’
Final Thoughts: Empowering Designers to Shape the Future Through Awareness
Adapting to Evolving Regulations and The Current State of Tech and Design
This election is a fighting pit, like a scene in The Gladiator with the entire world watching. As a product designer, I want to investigate what may happen when the winner takes the killing blow.
The tech industry is the root of the U.S. economy, driving innovations and trends. Whether we like it or not, these giant companies control a lot. The rapid race of tech development has outstripped existing regulatory policies, leading to debates over the following:
Current State of the Tech Industry and UX/UI Design
Artificial Intelligence (AI): The AI goldrush saga continues, driving tech innovation faster than most of us can handle. Many advances in AI have focused on automation to create more personalized user experiences, giving designers an entirely new area to explore rapidly. However, the rise of the AI behemoth has raised many concerns, including ethical use, data privacy, and the need to strengthen outdated regulatory frameworks.
Data Privacy: As you may know, data breaches and personal information leaks are rising, and there is a demand to crack down even tighter and make data privacy laws more strict. How designers handle this future is untold, but we must still focus on user consent and transparency to build trust and comply with existing policies until we see how tight new policies will be.
UX/UI Design Trends: In this bustling universe, user-centricity and authenticity are more important than ever when building trust and connections. As the country pushes for inclusivity, so will design. Tech leaders will continue to pour money into AI and machine learning, and designers need to be able to ride the wave and pay attention to it, or you will be left behind.
If you want to hear other subject matter experts discuss the impacts of this election, here is an article from Franklin Equity Group. In it, a team of analysts from Silicon Valley discuss what the presidential election could mean for technology and innovation.
Impending Policy Shifts: How the 2024 Election Could Disrupt Tech Industry Practices
The country is holding its breath for this election, and we are screaming into the showdown this week. We tech industry professionals need to ask ourselves whether we want to crack down on some of these policies or loosen the grip set on the country.
Large tech companies are fighting the challenges they face due to sudden regulation changes. Proving they’re facing immediate risks in these confusing transitions. This scenario underscores the urgency for UX/UI and product designers to pivot and adapt to policy shifts that may soon hit us, disrupting established practices and strategies.
The 2024 Election Will Reshape UX/UI Design: Prepare for an AI Paradigm Shift
Paint this picture: the tech industry is the Titanic navigating through rocky waters and trying to avoid a potential collision with an iceberg, and we have no way of knowing or controlling when and where we will hit (or if we will hit). Sounds like anxiety, right?
The upcoming presidential election is a lighthouse in the darkness, and we can all steer toward stricter regulations or veer into uncharted waters of loosened regulations. For designers, this means preparing for shifts in how we approach user consent, data handling, and inclusive design practices.
Harris Administration: According to an EY survey, 74% of tech leaders believe the election results will impact AI regulation and global competitiveness. The potential first woman in office may implement stricter AI regulations to ensure ethical use and data privacy. This may affect how we currently use AI in our workflows and how designers integrate it into the user experiences that we create.
Trump Administration: On the other hand, Mr. Trump could favor a more relaxed approach. He is a businessman, after all. He could reduce regulatory constraints and allow the design of increased experimental AI applications. Tech leaders are chomping at the bit to support this approach, saying that the upcoming election could significantly shape AI regulation, making it a possible turning point for politics and technology.
In a Business Insider, they cover some insights on the impact of Harris vs. Trump on AI.
Data Privacy Overhaul: Looming Election Threatens UX/UI Design Norms
Trust and transparency have always been a focal point of UX and product design. Still, when the entire country is nervous about the rapid growth of technology and the amount of control FAANG companies have over the government, things may disrupt existing design practices. With each party proposing opposing approaches, the outcome could affect how data is handled, affecting user trust and design methodologies in some design industries.
Think about how Meta (Facebook) faced substantial challenges when adapting to tighter data privacy regulations like the GDPR in Europe. Compliance with these updated regulations led to significant redesigns in Meta’s consent and data handling practices. This example shows the need for designers to anticipate and prepare for the impacts before the industry is caught off guard. Designers aren’t just pixel pushers but strategists in tune with their industry, business, and users. You know what rolls downhill. If FAANG companies are hit, so will smaller enterprises, and the designers will see the most significant impact if they are working with AI or industries that may rely on privacy and trust standards, such as FinTech, MedTech, Government Services, and more.
Harris Administration: Anticipate a strong push for improved data privacy laws. This will require designs to prioritize user consent and transparent data practice, traversing into an entirely new depth of user-centric designs. The EY survey indicates that tech leaders foresee the election impacting user data and content oversight.
Trump Administration: Focusing on deregulation may lead to more lenient data privacy standards or allow large tech leaders to control the direction in which these regulations are shaped. This would allow designers the flexibility to pioneer new technology rapidly. Big tech is pouring money into lobbying to influence rules. According to Issue One, Big Tech has pumped more than $51 million into lobbying thus far in 2024, nearly 14% more than the amount the same organizations collectively spent on lobbying during the same time period in 2023.
In an article from The Hill, they listed that both parties want to crack down on topics like Antitrust regarding large companies like Google and Meta, but in their ways, it would seem that nothing is still final on how each party stands with complete certainty.
Global Tech Landscape Hinges on U.S. Election Outcomes
Kamala Harris advocates for strict AI and data privacy regulations to support ethical AI development and improved data protection. This legislation addresses people’s concerns to safeguard consumer rights and misuse of technology. It may also affect how companies collect, store, and utilize data, most likely increasing costs but building user trust.
Donald Trump focuses on deregulation to stimulate innovation and economic growth to keep the country at the forefront of this global race. Trump’s policies focus on hardening American competitiveness in the worldwide tech market, possibly through tax incentives and relaxed regulations. Still, we don’t know what some of those changes may lead to.
This election will significantly influence the future of our planet, particularly regarding data privacy, security, and technological advancement. Other countries will follow suit whether we choose stricter regulations or loosen the chokehold a bit. So, the big point here is that whatever part is chosen will affect not only us but also everyone around the globe. In turn, this shapes the way design standards are molded to fit worldwide advancements. What side of the coin do you want to see as a designer?
How the 2024 Election Will Impact UX/UI Designers: Trends and Industries to Watch
UX, UX/UI, and product designers, you need to focus on the following that upcoming policies could impact.
Trends UX/UI Designers Should Watch
Ethical AI and Data Transparency: With the increasing strictness of regulations concerning AI ethics, designers will likely have to focus on transparency, particularly when incorporating AI into their products. This transparency will encompass the methods of data collection, utilization, and sharing with users, affecting aspects such as user consent processes and AI-powered interfaces.
Inclusivity and Accessibility: Efforts to promote inclusivity through policy may lead to more incentives for products that are accessible and universally designed. This could result in increased funding for inclusive design initiatives and accessibility training, along with resources to assist designers in creating diverse abilities and backgrounds.
Sustainability-Focused Design: If eco-friendly policies become more popular, designers in consumer goods, packaging, and digital products might have to focus on using sustainable materials and processes. This shift will affect product lifecycles, from sourcing materials to disposal at the end of their life, and could lead to changes in design standards.
Industries Most Affected by New Policies
Healthcare: Medical fraud is one of the main concerns with information privacy and security. MedTech and health data become central to policy discussions, and professionals in the healthcare design sector will face unique challenges. These challenges include safeguarding patient data privacy, optimizing telehealth user interfaces, and increasing accessibility. Compliance with data privacy regulations and ensuring usability for sensitive health applications will be essential.
Finance: Customers store one of their most precious assets inside FinTech platforms, so they will be shaped by data protection regulations, encouraging creators to design financial products that prioritize security and user accessibility. Policy changes may heighten the emphasis on transparency, urging designers to simplify complex data and enhance the trust users place in these products.
E-commerce and Retail: New data privacy regulations are set to significantly impact e-commerce, as the collection of personal data for targeted advertising is crucial. As major businesses like Amazon start rolling out AI, security and trust concerns arise when using the new feature. Designers will have to reconsider user flows and consent mechanisms, ensuring they maintain transparency regarding data usage and collection practices.
Top 10 Technology Trends to Watch in 2025 for Designers’
As designers look ahead to 2025, it's crucial to start honing the skills that align with the industries that captivate their interests. Preparing now will position them for success in an evolving landscape.
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I’ll give you a hint of what is first on the list for Top 10 Tech Trends! It’s a two-word term or a two-letter acronym. 😉
View the full article “Top 10 Technology Trends in 2025 for UX/UI Designers: The Essential Skill Preparation Guide”
Final Thoughts: Empowering UX/UI Designers to Shape the Future Through Awareness
As we near this crucial point in our lives where it feels like Y2K all over again, our design decisions will be influenced by factors that extend beyond our screens. The policies established could either drive innovation forward or compel us to rethink our stance on user trust and ethics.
Quick Takeaways:
The 2024 U.S. election could significantly impact the tech and design industries, potentially redefining regulations around AI and data privacy.
Depending on the administration, either stricter regulations or relaxed constraints could shape innovation and user experience (UX/UI) practices.
Tech leaders express concern over the rapid pace of technological growth outpacing regulatory frameworks, emphasizing the importance of user consent and transparent practices.
Key trends to watch include ethical AI usage, inclusivity in design, and sustainability-focused practices as designers adapt to regulatory changes.
Under new policies, the healthcare, finance, and e-commerce sectors are anticipated to face unique challenges related to data privacy and usability.
Designers play a crucial role in embedding principles into products, influencing trust and ethics as they navigate upcoming political shifts.
This election isn’t just about politics; it’s about the principles we embed into the products millions use daily. It’s up to us to decide how we shape products and ideas using new policies and technologies as our instruments. We can remain in the lead by understanding the potential shifts of these massive political landscape waves. It’s a designer’s job to educate themselves continuously.
How will your work as a designer reflect the shifts happening in the world around you — and are you prepared to adapt and lead through the changes that lie ahead?
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