With the rise of AI, we often feel like technology is about to take away our jobs. Clearly, that’s one of the biggest concerns when it comes to AI. For graphics designers, the feeling is even more intense, particularly with the advancement in graphic design AI and automation tools.
As a graphic designer, my aim in this post is to alleviate this fear and walk you through the basic steps I’ve applied in my journey as a graphics designer to stay afloat and create a more rewarding graphic design career. In the end, hopefully, you’ll be able to find several ideas that you can apply in your career to stay relevant as a graphics designer in the age of automation. With that said, let’s jump right in.
Overview of Graphic Design Automation
Before covering the details of how to stay relevant as a graphic designer in the era of the AI boom, let’s briefly discuss what exactly is graphics design automation, and how is it transforming our industry?
Simply put, automation in graphics design refers to the use of technology to handle repetitive tasks. Further, with the advancement in AI technology, the definition goes beyond recurrent tasks. Graphics design automation now covers the process of deploying sophisticated technology to create visual communication content like images, illustrations, videos, and GIFs. In a way, graphic design is very similar to other fields, such as music, marketing, and content, where AI tools can provide a solid replacement for humans. For instance, content creators often use the ChatGPT CIDI framework to boost their results, while musicians can generate chord progressions and even lyrics in seconds using AI tools.
Going back to graphic design – Canva AI, for example, has advanced tools to the stage where it generates images and illustrations within seconds. Another example is Photoleap, which has an amazing mobile app that helps content creators create AI images in seconds. Moreover, companies and solo entrepreneurs are adopting automation tools like Adobe Sensei in place of human employees. Ultimately, the growing impact of technology in this industry threatens to reduce the dependence on human efforts and potentially eliminate the need for graphic designers.
Using AI as a Graphic Designer – Top AI Tools (Free and Paid)
As technology advances, so should you. Of course, you can stay with the tools you are using to create graphic designs; however, with so many valuable tools that pop up every day, you also need to check these tools in order to improve your workflow. Also, with so many recommendations and suggestions online, you also need to focus on the best AI tools currently available in the market.
So, as of September 2029, here are the 10 best tools for graphic designers from my personal experience:
To learn more about some of these AI graphic design tools, watch the video below.
Read More: Here’s Why I Think ChatGPT is Not Going to Change the World
So, How Can You Stay Relevant as a Graphic Designer in the Age of Automation
Regardless of the increasing competence of graphics design technology, there are still some ways to stay relevant as a graphic designer. Here are a few insights that have helped me in my journey as a graphics designer.
Aligning With Technological Shifts
As mentioned, you always need to be updated with the latest tools that pop up in the market, especially when it comes to AI technology. Even though it sounds generic, it’s the first step toward staying relevant as a graphics designer. To remain relevant, you need to react differently to the ongoing tech encroachment into the graphics design industry. Rather than resisting the advancement, it’s best to welcome it. This mindset has been helpful in my career, and hopefully, you’ll find it rewarding as well.
Automation tools and AI are not a threat to your competence or relevance in this industry. If there’s anything, they’re more of a blessing. Embracing Canva AI, Adobe Sensei, Adobe Firefly, Khroma, etc, and some of the best web development tools and plugins can improve your work and client experience and would be highly beneficial to your work in the long run.
Niche Down
Once you’ve accepted these technologies as part of your tool kit, the next step in the process is to carve out a space for yourself in the industry. This would arguably be the best decision you’ll make in your career.
Niching down as a graphics designer implies that you build your core competency and value proposition around a specific specialization in graphics design. It can be as broad as brand communications or as narrow as videos, images, or GIFs.
For instance, Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) design is one of the fastest-growing niches in the industry, thanks to its extensive use on social media and cryptocurrency meme markets. It is also widely used in the music industry, particularly in the Lofi genre. Graphics designers can sell GIFs online to generate additional income. These are aspects you can look into for more gains as a graphic designer. There are hundreds of other graphic design niches you can specialize in, and it is a trial and error process before you’ll find the right niche.
Develop Unique AI Skills and Expertise
One of the flaws of artificial intelligence graphics design tools is that they generate generic visuals. Brands find it hard to distinguish their identities when using these tools for their communication assets.
So it’s essential to not only learn how to use AI graphic design tools, but also develop high-quality skills. You should aim to develop soft skills and high-end skills such as design software mastery, UX/UI design, motion graphics and animations, brand identity design, illustration, etc. For that purpose, it might be better to focus on a maximum of 2-3 graphic design tools and application.
Target The Right Clients
Niching down in the automation age is insufficient if your goal is to remain relevant. You also need to focus on the right market. Designers who have clearly defined markets often outperform those who don’t.
In my case, I target busy solopreneurs who can’t afford to handle marketing due to time constraints and can’t afford to outsource to larger firms. Generally, these categories of clients fit perfectly into my work style. You should also define the confluence you wish to have with your ideal clients.
The busy schedule of my target clients prevents them from efficiently relying on automation tools, and their financial constraints put me in their sweet spot. With the right skills and mindset, it becomes quite easy for me to form a lasting bond that’s mutually beneficial.
Final Word
In sum, adapting to technological changes in graphic design is crucial to succeed in this profession. Most will agree that the future of this industry belongs to designers who don’t feel threatened by the ongoing advances around us. Rather, those who embrace and align with it would be rewarded.
Overall, in your pursuit of relevance, you’re the best asset in the business. Investing in quality knowledge and continuous learning would benefit you in the short and long run. And, if you are struggling, you might want to consider taking an online course about AI tools in the graphic design industry.
