With the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), designers now have a powerful tool at their disposal, one that could reshape the creative industry. The landscape of AI tools is vast, with some applications having a potentially industry-shifting impact. In this blog post, I will delve into the potential impact AI could have on the future of graphic design and where it currently fits within a designer’s toolkit.
Image generation and automation
AI has the potential to significantly streamline the design process. One of the most time-consuming tasks in graphic design is image editing and manipulation. AI-powered tools can help automate these processes, allowing designers to focus on more creative aspects of their work.
For instance, tools like Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill can make removing unwanted objects from images or extending backgrounds just a prompt away, when historically making these changes look seamless was a tedious and time-consuming task.
Not only can we fast-track image editing, but it can also be used as a great tool to create complete images for campaigns. Designers can use Artificial Intelligence image generators such as Midjourney to create the perfect images for a campaign, right down to the style of photography, with some simple prompts. This can save countless hours compiling image options, and even reduce the need for photoshoots.
As an example, we can use Artificial Intelligence to replace the need for extensive retouching on portrait photography. Previously, if we were to do staff photos, we would need to set up a shoot. This would include scouting a location, or setting up a backdrop with lighting. All that on top of hoping none of our subjects wakes up to a bad hair day. But if I were to use an AI image generator such as Aragon AI, which is built specifically to create portraits for platforms such as LinkedIn, I can simply feed in 10-15 candid images of a subject, and it will generate over 30 professional-looking variations within minutes.
While AI Image generation is rapidly improving, how effective an AI tool can be still comes down to how we interact with it. Learning to utilise prompts to get the desired result is a skill that can take some time to refine, with loose or unclear prompts yielding unexpected (and sometimes hilarious) results.
Generative design
Generative design, a concept made possible by AI, enables designers to input certain parameters, and AI will generate a wide range of design options. This can be particularly useful in creating variations of a logo, packaging design, or branding materials. Designers can then choose the most appealing option or use AI-generated designs as a source of inspiration. This can help fast track the conceptualisation process, giving designers a solid springboard to work from.
On a deeper level, AI can help graphic designers create more personalised and targeted designs. By analysing user data and behaviour, AI can suggest design elements, colour schemes, and layouts that are more likely to resonate with a specific audience. This level of personalisation can enhance the effectiveness of marketing materials, ensuring that the right message reaches the right people.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While the potential benefits of AI in graphic design are substantial, there are also challenges and ethical considerations to address, as well as legal concerns. These include concerns about job displacement, the need for ethical AI design, and the potential for AI-generated designs to become formulaic or generic.
One of the large concerns around the utilisation of AI in the artistic and design space is copyright and ownership. Legislation is still playing catch up on how to regulate both the AI tools we use, and the artwork we create using those tools.
AI image generators will scrape thousands, potentially millions, of images to inform the creations it presents us. So the question of whether the image generated is completely free from copyright infringement is debatable.
This debate comes down to two core aspects – the input side, and the output side. The input side is the legality of scraping potentially copyrighted images to inform AI generation, and the output side is the question of ownership and copyright of the outputted content.
Conclusion
The future of graphic design is being reshaped by the integration of AI. From automating repetitive tasks to providing creative inspiration, AI can empower designers to do more with less effort. However, it is important to strike a balance between the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence and the designer’s artistic intuition. The potential for AI in graphic design is vast, and as the technology continues to evolve, designers must adapt and harness its power to stay ahead in the ever-evolving creative industry.
AI is not here to replace designers but to enhance their capabilities, offering a new palette of tools to explore and create innovative, impactful designs. The future of graphic design is promising, with AI serving as a creative partner in this exciting journey.
Here is an AI generated image from the behind the scenes of our blog cover. Created using Midjourney, Aragorn and a bit of Photoshop.
Check out DesignStreet’s last blog about Marketing Copywriting here.
