How can graphic designers use AI?

Find inspiration for visuals

Do you need ideas for a logo or clipart? Quickly create unique concepts with just a simple prompt thanks to AI image generation. Communicate your vision for any visual to generate a unique image or design. An example prompt to try could be, “Generate a modern, sleek logo for a sneaker company. Use bold outlines and a complementary palette consisting of red and black.” From there, if needed, edit the logo as you see fit and readjust it to align with your brand’s identity. Or, if you don’t like the design that AI creates, tweak your prompt to get a different outcome.

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Streamline photo editing

Try AI photo editing to save time on graphic design. Removing the background from objects is faster and more precise than ever. Some AI tools, like Microsoft Designer, have features like generative fill, which fills gaps where objects have been removed. Some AI tools even expand images, a feature that logically extends a photo or image beyond its border. For example, you can take a landscape photo and extend the edges to reveal a wider review—perfect for designing posters.

Come up with color schemes

Having an established color scheme in your designs keeps everything consistent and conveys the personality and mood of your designs. Have AI assist with multiple aspects of this, from extracting colors from images and creating color palettes to generating ideas based on your goals. For example, to achieve an earthy triadic palette, try a prompt like this in your AI tool, “Suggest an earthy triadic palette with HEX codes,” and it’ll share specific HEX codes.

Evaluate and improve typography designs

Typography is a critical element in design. If not done right, typography can reduce the accessibility and effectiveness of a design or infographic. Get advice on improving your designs by consulting AI and sharing your work, including kerning, font styles, and spacing. Submit a picture or screenshot of the project you’re working on and ask, “Is this typography user-friendly? What fonts should I use, and how can I refine my kerning, size, and text length?”

Create social media content

Social media content often requires specific adjustments to make sure your image is visually cohesive. Readjust your designs to the required dimensions for the social platform of your choice with AI tools. Let’s say you have a photo that’s in portrait mode and you need to switch to a square design. You might try a prompt like, “Resize this design to 1080 x 1080 pixels, with a 1:1 aspect ratio.”

If you need assistance writing and editing captions for your posts, leverage AI-powered Editor to develop the appropriate text based on your post. Consult AI with an image of your post, and say, “What would be a fitting caption for this social media post, based on my design?”

Check for overall consistency and accessibility

Once you finish a project, turn to AI to ensure your designs are consistent, user-friendly, and accessible. Submit your designs to AI your AI tool and ask, “How can I improve the overall accessibility and consistency of my design?”

Want to learn other ways to improve your graphic design? Get more tips and tricks from Life Hacks, from using layout grids to learning the principle of scale in design.