A Beginner’s Guide to AI Graphic Design

Best AI graphic design generator tools, the pros and cons of AI, and the all important question “will AI replace graphic designers” - we’re here to answer it all.

AI-powered tools aren’t exactly a new thing. Most leading design software have already had AI features, such as smart selection or background removal, which relied on machine learning.

However what truly changed the rules of the game is AI image generation. In just a few clicks artificial intelligence managed to create designs that used to take hours to produce.

Why use AI for graphic design? Will AI replace human designers? And how to use this technology the right way? Here’s everything you need to know about graphic design AI.

Why use AI graphic design generators

If you’re one of many people still skeptical about using AI for design, here are some of the reasons why you need to consider it.

It’s cheap.

Outsourcing design work can cost a lot (although not necessarily, as we’ll discuss in the last part). A good logo usually costs several hundred dollars, while a professional website will set you back thousands. Custom illustrations and digital art can also be quite expensive depending on the project.

On top of that, most businesses need graphics daily. So, costs can pile up fast even with simple, everyday graphics. 

Most AI graphics generators cost nothing or very little (even industry leaders like Adobe Firefly have a free plan). With the free AI image generators you’re usually limited by the number of images per day. However, you can also pay extra for additional images. 

It’s fast.

No matter how experienced a designer is, they’re no match to artificial intelligence. The hours of research a good designer would have to do before a project is done within seconds as AI generates images in real time according to your needs.

It boosts creativity.

While AI won’t replace human creativity, it can enhance it. AI-powered tools can offer suggestions, generate ideas, and handle technical aspects of the design process. For example, it can provide variations of an existing design in seconds, or multiple concepts that you can build your ideas on. 

Reasons AI will not replace graphic designers

“Will AI replace graphic designers” is one of the most common and dreaded questions in the design world nowadays.

Same as with other creative professions, such as writers, many people fear AI will completely take over, making the design process infinitely faster and cheaper.

Although AI image generation has come a long way since the early days, there are still three reasons why it will never be a match for human designers.

AI lacks emotional intelligence and context

There are numerous examples of AI misunderstanding text prompts.

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Although to be fair, AI technology is getting better at this all the time, it can never replace the emotional and cultural intelligence of a human designer. For example, you’ll often see people going about their day in ball gowns. 

In most cases poorly understood prompts make for a good laugh. But if you find yourself using AI for graphic design, these design fails can make the process very frustrating and slow. 

Innovation comes from humans

Remember that artificial intelligence is based on machine learning. That means it can only go as far as the human brain has already gone.

If you’ve used any AI tools for graphic design, you’ll have noticed that after a while the style and options start to feel a little limiting. This isn’t a big deal for “run of the mill” graphics, like social media or even simple business cards.

Still, at one point or another, you will feel the need for a fresh perspective. As it learns from humans, AI can’t yet offer the “next big thing”.

This can be especially harmful for marketers and marketing agencies that are meant to produce cutting-edge graphics that will put their clients above the grain. 

Devil’s in the details.

AI is notorious when it comes to overlooking details, especially with complex images and text prompts.  

Sometimes these details are hard to catch with one glance, but once spotted they’re impossible to ignore.

Here’s a little test I did with Canva’s AI feature. At first glance this illustration of a girl wearing a yellow dress seems perfectly fine. However, if you look a bit closer you’ll notice the finishing touches, such as the detailing on the dress and the shoes, are nowhere near the usual quality of Canva designs. 

Moreover, the AI tool also neglected to use the exact color code for the dress I provided in my prompt. Unlike graphic design templates, it’s a lot more difficult to change the color here, and can’t be done easily with most online design tools.

If you’re designing for a brand and wish to follow brand identity guidelines, something like this can turn out to be a big downside of AI graphic design generators. 

How to use AI graphic design right 

With all the limitations of AI graphic design tools in mind, there’s no denying the benefits. AI design saves time and money, streamlines the creative process, and can be an invaluable source of ideas and inspiration.

So, here are some tips on using AI graphic design the smart way.

Use it for parts of the design - not the whole thing.

Nowadays AI can generate images of all sorts, from logos, to packaging and social media, even websites. But the more complex the project, the less likely AI-generated graphics will look the part. 

So, it’s best to use AI only for details. For example, you can use the AI generated website as a skeleton, but populate it with custom content and design to ensure it fits your brand and is user friendly.

Or, you can use isolated AI illustrations on custom background and for specific purposes. 

Use it to speed up the design process.

We’ve already mentioned AI features most popular design tools have. Whether you’re using smart retouching on your photos, smart selection to crop out certain elements, or design suggestions made by AI - these features can really make your life easier.

If you want to learn a thing or two about graphic design, it also pays to understand how you can utilize features like these. 

Avoid the AI look.

Ai image generation hasn’t even been around that long, and people are already getting tired of it. Don’t think that just because something looks nice, it will serve its purpose well.

An AI social media post will fail to generate engagement, as it’s likely something people have seen a lot and are bored of. More importantly, it will make your brand seem impersonal and fail to create brand recognition.

Similarly, free logos designed by AI are always a bad idea. A logo should be a visual representation of your brand - what you do and why you do it. If your logo looks like cookie-cutter stuff people have seen thousands of times before, it’s likely that your target audience will overlook your logo and by extension your brand. 

A better alternative to AI graphic design

We hope this has shed some light on AI graphic design in general. While it’s definitely not something to shy away from, you should understand its limitations and how best to use it.

We’ve already mentioned that AI designer tools are no match for human designers. But that doesn’t eliminate the fact that professional graphic design can often be expensive.

Often, but not always.

Unlimited design companies are democratizing design by offering flat-rate design services. With ManyPixels you can get all your graphics for a s little as $549 a month.

One rate includes all the graphics your business needs - from logos and branding, to websites, presentations, marketing designs, and much, much more.

Get paired with a professional designer with the right skills and experience to fit your needs. No need to wander in the dark with AI graphics generators. Our designers will listen to your wants and needs and deliver designs that match your brand.

If we don’t get it right the first time - don’t worry! Unlimited revisions are also included, so you can keep reiterating until you’re 100% satisfied.

‍Pick your design subscription and get started today. Or book a free consultation to discuss your design needs with us.