Will AI replace graphic designers? With the rapid rise of generative AI in recent years, many creatives wonder. Generative AI and AI-assisted tools are available everywhere and enable even those without an understanding of graphic design principles to create content in a matter of seconds. So, it’s perfectly understandable to worry about being a graphic designer in the AI age. However, graphic designers should view AI as just another tool in their kit that, when used correctly, can make creating more efficient, raise quality, and inspire new, unique ideas.
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Graphic designers are still important because they bring an educated eye and knowledge of design principles to discern what’s actually effective and what’s more of a generic conglomerate produced by a template or AI.
The Rise of AI In Graphic Design
Digital tools have been a part of graphic design for decades now. However, the mainstream introduction of generative AI, such as Open AI’s DALL-E, has shaken things up. AI tools are widely available and even integrated into the design software students and professionals use daily, including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Whether a user uses AI tools to speed up the design process or creates images from written prompts, it can feel like AI has suddenly turned everyone into a graphic designer. Of course, that may have designers concerned about job security and longevity.
Using AI to Collaborate, Not Replace
For all the things that generative AI can do, it can’t replicate genuine human creativity. Since these tools pull from previously created works, much of generative AI’s output leans toward generic.
“Graphic designers are still important because they bring an educated eye and knowledge of design principles to discern what’s actually effective and what’s more of a generic conglomerate produced by a template or AI,” said Villa Maria College graphic design professor Julie Zack. “The art form comes in the prompt, it seems. The more effective the prompt, the better the artificially generated outcome. And to prompt AI successfully, you need that artistic background.”
In today’s ultra-competitive consumer landscape, generic work just doesn’t cut it. Creative graphic designers with strong foundational skills who have adjusted to using AI tools may flourish in the coming years because they know what it takes to create strong designs that truly connect with audiences.
“Graphic designers serve as a client’s brand architect, helping steer every piece of communication based on research, strategy, and psychology to yield positive outcomes for the company,” Professor Zack said. “Ultimately, the effective process of good design influences profit margins and brand equity.”
Work More Efficiently
One of the best uses for AI is to reduce time spent working on repetitive, laborious tasks. Streamlining tasks like resizing images, applying filters, and configuring layouts allows graphic designers to work faster and cut down on tedious tasks that otherwise slow down the creative process. This allows designers to spend more time brainstorming the creative aspects of their work.
Improve Design Quality
AI-assisted tools are great for polishing designs. Tasks like enhancing sharpness, removing imperfections, adding small details, and other subtle adjustments can all be made quickly and to a high degree. That means high-quality end products for designers and those they’re designing for.
Overcome Creative Blocks
Working through creative blocks is one of the main challenges in graphic design. AI can be useful for ideation, including creating base images to work from, proposing color schemes, and suggesting fonts.
Giving Credit Where Its Due
As mentioned, generative AI pulls from works that have already been created. That creates an ethical gray area graphic designers should be conscious of.
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Put yourself in another creator’s shoes before using an AI-generated image.
“Ideally, credit should be given for images produced with AI, as the original creator or source can eventually be traced. This, of course, would be very difficult to do,” said Professor Zack. Still, it’s important to be as ethical as possible when using AI.
“Students have already experimented with AI and have vast access to it. Learning to use it responsibly and respectfully is what we try to instill,” reiterated Professor Zack. “This is a new frontier, and using empathy may be a way to approach it. Put yourself in another creator’s shoes before using an AI-generated image.”
Study Graphic Design at Villa
AI for graphic design isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Graphic designers must be able to adapt to using AI as it becomes more accessible and accurate. Villa Maria College prepares its students for success in their careers, including instilling the ability to evolve with the latest technological advances.
