A.I. and Graphic Design: A Creative Collaboration
The first time I used A.I. was back in 2021, when DALL·E was first released to the public. I was blown away by this tool that could generate images from just a simple prompt. Looking back, the results weren’t that impressive compared to what A.I. can do today — but at the time, it felt mind-blowing.
Below are some screenshots of the very first images I created with DALL·E.
After that first experience, I started using A.I. in my everyday life — mostly for research and work-related tasks. At the time, I hadn’t really thought about using it for graphic design. But as the technology kept evolving, I found myself more and more curious about its potential in the creative field.
Still, I couldn’t ignore the growing concerns around A.I. While I was impressed by its possibilities, I was also aware of how it could be used for the wrong reasons — from deepfakes to the spread of fake news. It was clear that this tool, as fascinating as it was, could also be dangerous in the wrong hands.
As A.I. continued to improve, especially in image generation, it became harder and harder to tell whether some illustrations were created by a machine or a human. That line started to blur — and that’s when I realized how powerful this technology had become. The quality, the realism, the creativity... it was all evolving so fast.
Eventually, I reached a point where I didn’t just want to observe from the outside anymore — I wanted to experiment with it myself. So last week, I finally subscribed to the premium version of ChatGPT — and that’s when everything started to shift. I began to truly understand how A.I. could assist in the creative process, not replace it.
A.I as a Visual Assistant
One of the first ways I integrated A.I. into my design process was for help with visuals — specifically, shadows. It might sound simple, but I’ve always struggled to make shadows look realistic in my compositions. That’s where A.I came in handy.
I uploaded my image and explained what I needed, and in return, I got a clear breakdown of how to apply light and shadow direction, placement, and even some suggestions for creating a more natural look using Photoshop. Something that would’ve taken me a frustrating amount of time on my own became a quick and smooth fix with A.I. by my side.
Here’s the original picture used for my artwork.
Notice the shadows under the chairs and near the swimming pool.
A.I. for Creative Concepts and Inspiration
Beyond technical help, what really blew my mind was how A.I. could fuel creativity. When I felt stuck or was looking for a fresh angle, I started using ChatGPT like a creative partner. I’d feed it a rough idea or a theme, and it would bounce back with unique visual concepts, titles, references, and even aesthetic directions. It helped me unlock new perspectives and explore paths I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.
What also impressed me was how quickly it could find relevant resources online — whether it was articles, visual references, or examples of similar creative work. Instead of spending hours browsing for inspiration or research, I could get a curated starting point in seconds. It wasn’t just about having more ideas — it was about saving time, gaining clarity, and accelerating the early stages of the creative process. It’s not about letting A.I. do the thinking — it’s more like brainstorming with someone who never runs out of ideas and always knows where to look.
A Human-Centered Creative Process
Even though A.I. has helped me along the way — whether with ideas, inspiration, or technical guidance — the production still remains fully human. I’m the one making the creative decisions, designing, adjusting, and bringing the final piece to life. A.I. doesn’t replace the designer — it supports them.
For me, it’s a bit like having someone by your side in a studio or at work. I’ve always believed that we grow by being surrounded by others, by sharing knowledge, and by learning through exchange. A.I. plays a similar role: it's not there to take over, but to push you forward. It’s an assistant, a sounding board, a tool that helps you sharpen your own skills — not skip the work. At the end of the day, creativity still comes from us.
Conclusion
Maybe — just maybe — I’m writing this article to justify spending +$20 a month on ChatGPT+. But hey, if that’s what it takes to finally kick myself into gear, I’m okay with it. The truth is, my website had been sitting untouched for over two years, collecting digital dust.
Thanks to A.I., not only did I get inspired again, but I actually sat down, wrote something, and hit publish. And that’s a win in my book. So yes, I’ll be posting more content — and no, I won’t make A.I. write it all for me (well… maybe just a little help with the grammar). 😉