Hey, it's Oisin here! Last time we talked about how AI has changed the way we build software and what that means for us as designers. This time I want to focus on what to setup before sending the first prompt: the context.
The quality of what AI generates has almost nothing to do with how well you prompt. It has everything to do with the context you set up before you ever type a word. A well prepared workspace is the difference between an AI that guesses and an AI that designs like it actually knows your project.
Grab a coffee, log in from wherever you are, and let's build the foundation together.
This Month's Focus: Setting Up Context for AI-Assisted Design
Some of us jump straight to prompting and wonder why the output feels generic. The designers getting real results invest upfront in giving the AI everything it needs: the right tools, the right knowledge, the right skills, and a clear picture of the project before any design work starts.
This session is a practical, start from zero walkthrough of how I set up my own AI design workspace. By the end you'll understand what each piece does and why it matters, so you can build your own.
Session Agenda:
👋 Quick intros
🎓 Tutorial: Why context before prompting, and what "setting up your workspace" actually means
🔌 Connecting MCPs: Plugging in tools like the Figma MCP so the AI can see and work with your design environment
🧩 Installing skills: Find and give the AI specialised abilities for the kind of work you do
🎨 Collecting inspiration: How to gather references and feed them in so the AI designs in the right direction
📄 Preparing the Claude file: Writing the project context that the AI reads first, every time
💬 Open conversation (last 30 min): Where you're stuck, what you'd set up differently, and how this changes the way we start a project
You'll leave with:
A clear, repeatable setup process you can run before any AI design project
An understanding of MCPs, skills, and context files, and what each one is actually for
The Figma MCP connected and working, so design and AI talk to each other
A reference guide with links and resources to get your own workspace running
Solid connections you'll want to follow up with
📅 Date: Saturday, June 21, 2026 ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (CET)
🎟️ Reserve your spot and you'll receive the join link!
💡 This is for you if you've tried designing with AI and felt like it was guessing, or if you want to get set up properly before you start.
🎟️ Free and open to anyone curious and kind. Save your spot today!
👉 If you're not an IxDF Member, you can get 3 months free on an annual membership using this link: Get Free Membership
+4
