Design By Computers How AI Is Changing The Graphic Design Industry

How AI Is Changing the Graphic Design Industry

Every century of humanity introduces new career options for individuals thanks to technological advancements and shifts in societal priorities. The worlds economy was dominated by agriculture just over a hundred years ago, and now the modern job market is entirely different and far more diverse. The birth of the Internet led to careers involving computers, including the gratifying job of graphic design.

Once again, we are witnessing a disruption in the global jobs market as factors such as advanced intelligence both assist and lessen the human impact in computer employment opportunities. Regardless of your opinion on this new technology, theres no denying that it will forever alter the worlds economy. Heres a breakdown of how AI is changing the graphic design industry.

More Accessible for Non-Professionals

Artificial intelligence takes the skill factor of virtual artwork away from users, and as a result, computers now produce high resolution, error-free images in mere seconds. This is great news for business owners who wish to create amazing brand imagery with minimal mistakes. Professional graphic designers most likely lament this new aspect within the industry, but graphic design has never been more accessible for the general public.

However, graphic designers do still benefit from advanced programs that make their jobs easier and far more efficienthighly skilled individuals can combine their talents with the power of AI to further benefit the large corporations that employ their services.

A Plethora of Options

With each advancement in technology, graphic designers have been gifted with more powerful tools that raise the quality of their creations. For instance, devices are capable of presenting and printing more dots and pixels per inch (DPI, PPI) than ever before!

AI further solidifies efficiency and gives graphic designers a new way to accomplish their goals. Logo design is quickly becoming effortless, as multiple AI programs can spit out fantastic branding in no time. Furthermore, these programs can promptly incorporate custom logos into every aspect of a businesss brand, including banners, merchandise, and advertisements.

New Careers and Financial Possibilities

As mentioned before, advancements always lead to more opportunities, even if jobs shift from one industry to another. As an example, lifelong truckers are moving away from their previous employment. They are becoming versed in fields like solar energy installation and other industrious work as a response to AI-powered vehicles.

The same is true for graphic design, which now requires highly skilled individuals who can program, code, and maintain artificial intelligence. Some graphic designers practice data analysis, software development, and research skills to increase their job efficiency further. In just a few years, well witness countless youths entering unforeseen careers that offer them exciting, financially rewarding lives.

Understanding how AI is changing the graphic design industry takes the fear out of a quickly evolving landscape and allows young people to pursue new career options. Plus, it makes non-professionals more equipped to further the success of their own businesses, which leads to even more positive economic impacts!

The Future of Graphic Design: How AI is Changing the Industry

Should we embrace Artificial Intelligence?

In case you hadnt noticed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an ever-growing presence in virtually all fields over the last few years, and graphic design is no exception.

Its been morphing the way graphic designers, students, design enthusiasts, and evenmarketingprofessionals approach their work for better or for worse. From automating mundane tasks to creating entire designs from scratch, this technology is rapidly transforming the future of graphic design and its showing no sign of slowing down.

In this article, well take a look at how AI is currently impacting the future of graphic design, what potential benefits and drawbacks it may bring, and how it might shape the industry in the years to come.

Computer-generated design is already showing up more than you may realize

Are you using AI already, without even knowing it? Its possible that whether youve directly designed with it or not, youve interacted with an AI-led resource in some shape or form.

Online tools such asCanva,Adobe Spark, and instant erasers on your smartphone all use a form of AI algorithm to make the process simpler.Adobes Sensei AIuses machine learning algorithms to automate tasks, like image resizing and color matching. For seasoned professionals,Adobes Creative Clouduses AI to recommend fonts and color palettes based on the users past work, streamlining the creative process.

And of course, its been rising in popularity on social media platforms in the form of facial filters and augmented reality and its evolving there too.

These impressive tools open up the world of design to non-designers, while drastically cutting down time for those designing day-to-day. But is it all good?

Design firmCreative Principalsis embracing the technology, openly sharing their experience in using AI toolsMidJourneyandDALL.Etoproduce mood boards for clients. They note in this case study forBlooloop,on their experiential design for theJ. Kruse Education Center, that using AI to instantly give clients visual feedback confirms the validity of the idea or even takes us in a new direction that we wouldnt have explored (or have had time to explore) otherwise..

Graphic designer Colin Maddox has a different view. In response tothis animated videothat took Idan Benishu, Head of Marketing atDataloop AI, less than 10 minutes to make using a mixture ofMidjourney,Chat GPTandD-ID, Maddox writes: As we see these amazing technologies growing ever more powerful, we need to remember not only the human risks associated with ever-increasing automation, but also the aesthetic risks of homogeneous, repetitive, low-effort content being generated at ever-increasing speeds and exponential quantities..

AI graphic design: the potentials and pitfalls

No matter which side of the fence you currently sit on, there are some clear potentials and drawbacks to this rising technology.

Potential: Immersive experiences

The Dal Museumin St. Petersburg Florida is currently runningDals Dream Tapestry, an AI-powered interactive exhibition that turns visitors dreams into artwork usingDALL.E an A.I. system that can create realistic images and art from a description in natural language.

Could this be the beginning of a new wave of designedcollaboration? Leading to new job roles appearing across the industry? Possibly. AI Managers, developers, and designers could all be on the horizon

Pitfall: Job replacement

Lets address the elephant in the room while there is scope for a new wave of employment, there is a lot of conversation about AI advancements reducing the need to hire real people.

While we cannot say for sure what will happen here, we strongly believe that nothing can ever replace the years of skill talented designers possess. Can AI truly adapt to the nuance and individual style needed to pull off the perfect design experience?

Potential: Copyright protection

AI watermark generators are on the rise, too. Clever AI embeds designers and artists names or identity marks within an image to protect work from copyright infringement.

Pitfall: Watermark removal

On the flip side, new free tools are emerging that can remove watermarks from designers work,causing huge implicationsand making the integrity of design work questionable at best.

Potential: Increased efficiency

Theres no doubting the speed and efficiency AI can provide. With properly inputted direction, these tools can handle the admin tasks that typically eat into a designers time using automation freeing them up to focus on more creative and strategic tasks.

Pitfall: homogenization

Yet, the potential for homogenization within design is a threat, as AI-generated designs may lack the creativity and individuality that human designers bring to their work. Could everything eventually end up looking the same?

The future of graphic design now AI is here to stay

While its impossible to predict exactly what will happen when it comes to artificial intelligence and its effects on the graphic design industry as things progress, the current landscape is both exciting and concerning.

When used well, its a powerful extension to a designers toolbox. When used without thought, we risk losing the finesse and individuality weve all built over the years.

And what about ethics? Weve already seen drastic implications on the younger generations mental health with increased AR on social media. So its possible that AI could begin to reshape cultural norms and perceptions, blurring the lines between original and computer-generated content.

Ethical considerations like this will (hopefully) become even more important as AI continues to evolve. Questions about who should be allowed access to these powerful tools (and under what circumstances) will need to be addressed before any widespread adoption takes place.

Use AI as inspiration, not a replacement

The way we see it, these incredibly advanced tools should be used as inspiration, not as a replacement for dedicated design skill and knowledge.

Its clear that the incorporation of AI into the graphic design industry is rapidly changing the way designers approach their work. While there are potential benefits to using AI in the design process, such as increased efficiency and speed, there are also drawbacks, like samey outcomes and potential job loss.

As AI continues to advance, it is important to stay informed and think about the ethical and societal implications of AI technology before diving in head first.

Go forth and experiment and enjoy the process, but be mindful that AI is still artificial, after all

Source: The Future of Graphic Design: AIs Impact | Design Force

How AI is changing graphic design

Artificial intelligence is affecting all areas of design and creativity, with some people and disciplines seeing more changes than others. To find out how AI is changing graphic design, we spoke to creatives at four different design agencies.

We asked them a few questions prompts if you like and they came back with some rather thoughtful reflections on what AI means to them, their studios, and to the industry as a whole.

For more on AI and how it can help your creative process, see the best AI for graphic design and 7 ways creatives are using AI.

How AI is changing design

Our designers agree that AI has had a big impact. "The landscape of design has been changed irrevocably with the launch of easy access to Generative AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion," says Jessica Tan, digital creative director at Design Bridge and Partners Singapore.

While some are worried about what this means, others are enjoying this period of change. "Our team is having great fun experimenting with AI, particularly Photoshop Beta, ChatGPT and Midjourney," explains Ben Christie, founder and partner at Magpie Studio. "Weve used it on everything from quick, daily tasks like email writing to more in-depth tasks such as generating imagery fast and writing code for After Effects. Its incredibly handy for writing scripts and expressions that save the designers time." And it's not just the Magpie Studio team who've found it useful. "Weve even used Midjourney to create the images for a cocktail bar identity for Lyaness, which has gone down really well with the client and their customers," says Christie.

Simon Elliott, partner at Rose, can also see some positives to AI: "I can see the benefit and appeal in cutting down the time to create iterative tests and design developments. I can also see how this will help jobbing graphic designers and those needing to output communications from outside our profession. So I think these kind of changes are already proving beneficial in some areas of design."

Connor Edwards, a designer at Jack Renwick Studio, sees AI as an exciting new tool, similar to Photoshop or Cinema 4D. But like any tool, it has its limitations. "AI doesn't yet make the creative connections that a human brain does those weird and wonderful observations that aren't always logical or are sometimes completely based on chance. Until AI can make these kinds of leaps, it's hard to see it as more than a tool to help people execute their own ideas."

The risks of using AI

Alongside the excitement around this new technology, there is also a sense of unease, says Tan. "While the tools have become inescapably useful in my day to day it feels important to think more deeply about how we let this technology shape our industry and what the long-lasting impact can be on not only how we work, but on the value of creativity at the core of our industry."

There are a few things in particular that worry Tan, "Its hard not to feel like the value of art, and that of artists, has fallen with the ease with which these images can now be spirited out of thin air with a simple line of text," she says.

She's also worried about AI contributing to the "blandification" of web design or branding. "The problem will only get worse as tremendous amounts of data continue to be spewed forward by AI generation, feeding into the sea of sameness, and gorging itself on polluted pools of data so that we are training AI on AI-generated data. As lovers of design, we need to do everything we can to avoid that."

Edwards has similar concerns. "We're concerned that AI could further homogenise the creative output of our industry. AI learns from the inputs we all provide, so if we prompt AI with something, it will inevitably reproduce it for someone else, somewhere. This is similar to everyone drawing inspiration from the same trending images on their Pinterest feeds."

Ownership and copyright concerns were also areas of concern. "As AI gathers data from images across the internet, questions arise about who owns these new creations," says Edwards. "Can they be licensed for use in creative work? Should the original creators of the source imagery receive credit? Is there a risk that talented creatives might get ripped off?"

"There are already issues with creative IP and AI," agrees Christie, "and without proper regulation this is only going to get worse. AI is developing so fast, its already becoming hard to tell human-generated from AI-generated imagery. Were hopeful that legal minds will quickly figure out how to control authorship in a fair and manageable way. In the meantime, its best to flag when its used so that authorship is clear, and people still get credit for their work."

The speed with which AI can produce images can be seen as a benefit, but there's a flipside, too. Elliott notes that it could lead to laziness or over-reliance in some designers, but that it could also effect clients too. "[AI could] fuel client expectation of faster delivery, in a world where everyone already expects everything yesterday."

AI's impact on creativity is also potentially an issue: "A recent study shows that while AI can improve the creative output of any given individual, it can hinder a highly creative person by anchoring their thinking," says Tan. "The conclusion? Use AI to become more creative but not if you want to be more original."

AI and design today

Despite these potential risks, all the designers we spoke to are using AI in some form or other in their work. After getting involved first of all because of the "novelty factor", Connor is experiencing how AI can save designers time: "We have used it practically to make repetitive tasks faster and more efficient, things like image cropping, resizing and colour editing, freeing up time for us to focus on more creative tasks. Im finding it fascinating and fun to test things out and try things quickly that maybe would have taken days pre-AI."

At Design Bridge and Partners, the team are also finding AI can speed things up "Generative AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are great for concept generation, quick visualisations, and storyboarding," says Tan. "The results are impressive in conveying the idea to clients as it allows us to create polished frames in a fraction of the time but hard to control. A lot of effort and time is still required to be able to give it precise direction, as design should be.

"However, in day-to-day work, I find integrated AI like Adobe Firefly to be much more exciting. It represents a dramatic reduction of time to do menial design tasks freeing up more time for imagination and creativity."

At Rose, Elliott has used AI less: "We've used fairly basic algorithms in our strategy work for a long while. And our team have put some of the Photoshop AI generative features to good use on quick mock-ups and visuals. But I haven't seen much evidence yet of AI in our industry that will help us beyond this."

AI and the future of design

Where will AI take us next in the world of graphic design? "Who knows," says Edwards. "The possibilities could be endless." He is positive overall, though. "Anything that puts creative tools in the hands of more people is a good thing in our books. With AI software easily accessible and often free to use, as well as being more intuitive than traditional design software, we hope people who might have previously been excluded from the creative industry could have a new world opened to them bringing the diversity our industry needs."

Elliott is a little more cautious. "If you consider that Geoffrey Hinton (generally cited as the 'Godfather of AI') has been very public in voicing his regrets and concerns about what he sees as the dangers of AI from all his experience and involvement in pioneering it, I'd suggest we should pay heed and treat it with both respect and caution. On the one hand, it could be a wonderful asset in the designer's toolkit. But as a replacement for the creative magic behind the astonishing thinking, design and craft our industry is capable of? I don't think so."

For Tan, there are a couple of ways the use of AI could go. "I believe our everyday creative work will become simplified and generalised, but truly original work will become more rare, therefore more expensive to create. Top tier talent will be harder to come by, and our over reliance on AI would have forced artists to leave the industry, leaving only a sea of sameness that continues to feed into AI machines, that continue to spew out the same designs.

"On the other hand, nothing might change. In the endless human pursuit of creative excellence, we might attract more promising talent to the industry since there are no longer any menial design tasks everyone gets a chance to shine and explore their creativity from the start. Just like the advent of cameras didnt eradicate portrait painters, we will cultivate an industry-wide sense of nostalgia for true human-only design and place a higher value on something made by the human brain."

Can AI be ignored? Edwards doesn't think so. "I think its clearly the next big revolution happening across all industries, and if you dont learn how to make it an effective part of your design process, you might end up getting left behind," he says.

That doesn't mean we should all start panicking about job losses though. "It can do repetitive tasks brilliantly, but it lacks the capacity for creativity or human judgement. It can only copy whats come before," says Christie. "So Im optimistic that human creativity is safe for a good while yet!"