Working With AI
This project focused on integrating AI tools within graphic design, emphasizing the effective use of generative AI to create. The objective was to combine three AI tools and two manual techniques in an Adobe program to create one cohesive graphic.
AI Tool 1 - Boot Icon
About The Graphic
I wanted this project to have a very simple western theme. I thought a boot might be a cute idea to add as it helps get the idea of “kicking” off the weekend through to an audience. I used the Generative AI shape function and prompted it with “Create me a cowboy boot that is simple.” The first icons it generated were boots more on the lines of rain boots, so I had to get a little more specific with my prompts. I then asked it to “Create me a simple hand-drawn western cowboy boot.” I generated that a couple of times until I got my desired boot and then I made it a bit smaller and skinnier to make it look more of the cowboy style I was looking for. I also changed the colors on the boot as well. I noticed the top of the boot during my drafting stages and loved how it looked like an exclamation point and wanted to include that as part of my design.
AI Tool 2 - Coffee Cup Icon
After I decided to change the idea of my design from a video thumbnail to a graphic a company could send out to its employees, I decided to go with the coffee theme. I liked the idea of continuing the icon theme to match the cowboy boot. I used the Generative AI shape function and prompted it with “Create me a small hot/to-go coffee cup.” I didn’t love the first options it gave me, so I generated it again with the same prompt and then chose one of those. I then changed the color of this as well to match the cowboy boot. I also decided to use repetition and do a line of coffee cups so it wasn’t just another random icon thrown in there. If I had done anything differently, I would have added some variation in my coffee cups, meaning the direction they were going in, so it was similar to the crooked boot.
AI Tool 3 - Heart Icon
The last generative AI created icon I wanted to add was something, again, very simple, so it matched the rest of the icons, but something that could replace words. I asked the Generative AI shape function and prompted it with “Create me a small simple heart.” I liked one of the first options it gave me and then changed the colors to match the other icons. It took me a while to figure out how to change the colors because it was not doing what I wanted it to do. I used the Generative Ai function for this since it was quicker than trying to create the heart myself.
Manual Tool 1 – Kick Off Text
This text was just to have a cute little saying at the top and explain the point of the graphic. I also wanted to use the top part of the boot as the exclamation mark at the end of the sentence. I just used the Type tool.
Manual Tool 2 – Code Text
This was for another section of text that I wanted to be separate from the first text to emphasize two different points. This text was specifically for the code itself, so it was easy to find.
Originally for my project working with generative AI, I wanted to create a simple video thumbnail that could be used for a variety of brands that looked hand-drawn. During the first couple of drafts, I was having a hard time using the generative AI function to create something that looked hand-drawn. This is when I scratched that idea and ended up still creating a very simple graphic, but I wanted its purpose to be a little more broad to where it could be sued for different things. This specific graphic I wanted to be as if a head team of some sort from a company was giving its employees a pre-weekend treat on them. I had the boot already from the first design and I liked it and though it brought in a western vibe so I tried to work around that with the rest of the design concepts including colors. I like how the top of the book had an exclamation point and used that to emphasize the happiness and excitement of the free coffee. After reviewing the draft with you, I changed the background color to a lighter shade of brown. I originally wanted to make things a darker vibe, but after hearing that that may jumble things up and not provide enough contrast, I decided to change it.
Working with AI was very simple at times and great to get things done quickly but it did come with challenged as well. I could never really get what I was envisioning in my head and consistently struggled changing the colors of the icons. If I had more time with this project, I would try to create something a little more exciting than just the graphic and try to step outside my box with the design.
I think using AI in my future work would be beneficial as a tool, especially for generating ideas when I am creatively blocked or struggling with a task from a client. I am interested to see if there are better ways for me to prompt it to get a better product closer to what I envision in my brain.