Thinking about integrating AI into your graphic design toolkit? Here are some tips and best practices to bear in mind.
1. Use AI for speed and efficiency while continuing to flex your creative muscles
Before you incorporate AI into your workflow, it’s important to think about where AI in graphic design can excel and add the most value—and to know when the job is best left to you, a talented human designer.
As a general rule, use AI to handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks—such as resizing images, removing backgrounds, retouching photos, and formatting layouts—while focusing your creativity and critical thinking on more high-impact projects and tasks.
This approach will enable you to strike a good balance between boosting efficiency and continuing to design with creativity and originality.
2. Use AI-generated designs as a creative springboard—not the final product
You’ll be amazed at the artwork and visuals you can create in mere seconds using generative AI, but your creative process shouldn’t end there.
As we mentioned earlier when discussing the limitations of AI, AI-generated content can lack originality—not to mention concerns around copyright and plagiarism.
Take inspiration from AI-generated designs, but don’t use them as the final product. Use generative AI tools to experiment with different styles and concepts, and to kick-start your own creative thinking. The best designs are entirely original and unique, and that’s where your human superpowers come in.
3. Stay up-to-date with AI tools and trends
AI is here to stay, and it’s continuously evolving and advancing. We expect to see many more AI tools and trends emerging in the future, so it’s important that you stay up-to-date.
Experiment with different platforms to see which AI tools are most useful within the graphic design process, and keep abreast of industry trends.
And, as new tools and trends take shape, be sure to assess them critically. Not every AI fad or feature will be worth your time—and some will be best avoided altogether.
With the tips and best practices we’ve outlined, you can ensure that you’re striking the right balance. And no matter what you do, make sure you’re always striving to use AI ethically and responsibly. Be mindful of AI’s biases, assess and address ethical concerns, and review any AI-generated content with a critical eye.
The takeaway
AI holds great potential in the graphic design industry, helping to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and boost efficiency. AI tools can also facilitate the creative process, enabling designers to experiment with different styles and spark inspiration.
But, despite its strengths, AI is not without its limitations—and graphic designers don’t need to worry about being replaced. AI is an incredibly helpful tool, but ultimately, it’s no match for human empathy, creativity, and problem-solving. If you’d like to learn more about the graphic design industry, we can recommend the following:
- A Complete Guide to Graphic Design Salaries (Plus Salary Negotiation Tips)
- Looking for Your First or Next Graphic Design Role? Here Are the Top Graphic Design Jobs Right Now
- 12 Graphic Design Ideas and Trends To Inspire Your Next Creative Project
Next steps
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the role of AI in graphic design, and feel (cautiously) optimistic about the future of AI. We also recommend that you check out this project by AND Learner, Kayo Hattori for inspiration on how creative you can get with graphic design.
Additionally, here are some more resources you can consider:
- Watch this session by design veteran and AND’s Academic Head, Prachi Mittal, and our Course Lead, Soumya Tiwari.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our Graphic Design courses – all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of the scholarship and funding options that come with our courses to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.