Artificial intelligence: A Companion, Not a Competitor
As we all navigate the constantly changing world of technology, it's clear that artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal force in reshaping industries, including graphic design. It's shaking things up, from cars that drive themselves (and actually know where they're going) to software that can whip up an essay or create a picture faster than you can say "deadline." It's got some of us tossing and turning at night, wondering if these softwares are about to steal our jobs as creators.
So, who exactly are we up against? AI platforms like DALL·E or Midjourney? The question itself might be misleading. Rather than viewing these tools as competitors, we should view them as tools that, when combined with skill and creativity, can enhance our capabilities as designers. These AI technologies offer us a palette to experiment with, to push the boundaries of what's possible, and to achieve efficiencies in our creative process.
The journey starts with us, the designers, as we set the stage with clear prompts and the right keywords for AI. This first step is just the beginning. The real magic happens when we take what AI gives us and add our own touch to it. AI can assist with graphic design, but it has its limits. For example, there's the story of a Cosmopolitan magazine cover made by AI in "20 seconds." But this quick fix overlooks the human effort behind the scenes to choose the creative direction and the right prompts to get that final look. It highlights an important truth: design is deeply human, filled with our own perspectives, emotions, and that unique touch AI can't replicate.
While we can make AI out to be the enemy and try to pretend like it doesn't exist, it's here to stay and grow into a more complex platform. So instead of painting it in a bad light, let's focus on why it's beneficial for us designers.
AI’s ability to spark new ideas: As I mentioned in my first blog post, designer's block is real and frustrating. In moments when creativity seems to slip away from us, AI can be a valuable tool to help generate fresh ideas and inspire innovative design solutions.
The ability to push out a mass amount of media efficiently: A great example of this is when creating a brand and aiming for consistency across all platforms. Once you establish the general base for your brand identity, you can utilize AI to streamline the process of generating various marketing materials, such as social media graphics, advertisements, and promotional content. This allows designers to focus their time and energy on more strategic and creative aspects of the design process, while AI handles the repetitive tasks with speed and accuracy.
Enhancing collaboration and communication: AI can assist a design team as a whole. By automating certain tasks and providing real-time feedback, AI tools can facilitate smoother workflows and enable designers to work more efficiently together, regardless of their geographical location.
Overall, while AI presents its own set of challenges and limitations, its integration into the field of graphic design offers numerous opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. As designers, it's essential for us to embrace AI as a valuable tool in our creative toolkit and leverage its capabilities to enhance our design processes and outcomes.
Hi! I’m Brooke Barber.
As a graphic designer I find joy in sharing my thoughts with other creators and the world. My work is a reflection of my education and personal growth over the years and I hope you enjoy both my written and visual pieces.
