Considering the scope of yet unexplored applications of artificial intelligence, it’s hard to predict exactly how AI will change the world. However, the impact of this technology has already been huge across multiple fields, and it continues to grow. In the graphic design industry, artificial intelligence powers branding tools, automates routine tasks, and enables a larger number of people to create stunning visual content without much training. In this article, we’ll take a look at the impact of AI on graphic design and disentangle some of the concerns surrounding it.
AI and Cloud Computing
Cloud computing, by itself, plays a crucial role in graphic design. It expands the capabilities of designers by granting them virtually unlimited computing power that increases the speed and quality of their work. Harnessing the power of cloud networks removes the constraints that relying on a computer’s processor instills.
Combined with cloud computing, artificial intelligence enables designers to run hundreds of design simulations quickly. When the conventional development and testing process takes months, the application of AI can reduce it to weeks or even days. Graphic designers still need to develop concepts and make final decisions, but machine learning algorithms can yield more adjusted results for assessment with incredible speed.
Making Design More Available
Artificial intelligence also works to make graphic design more accessible to people with no expertise in the field. In the contemporary world, businesses constantly need to develop websites and promotional content with small adjustments that don’t always warrant the involvement of the design team. Similarly to how smartphones have brought cameras to a wider audience, AI-powered design tools enable more people to improve their content without replacing the need for professional designers.
- AutoDraw
AutoDraw is an example of a tool that uses machine learning to help users with a limited skill set in design to create professional-looking images that they need. Once a person begins drawing, AutoDraw starts analyzing the picture dynamically. It then offers a set of possible images and shapes that fit the user’s sketch. This software can help create generic icons and visual representations with lightning speed and no significant graphic design knowledge.
- Let’s Enhance
Let’s Enhance is a service that can be used by amateurs and professionals alike. It allows users to enhance low-quality images and zoom in and out of a picture without losing quality. The tool uses machine learning to identify various areas in the photo and recognize how to improve them. Also, Let’s Enhance is constantly refining itself, as the AI network becomes more and more proficient with every processed image.
- Wix ADI
Wix is a platform for building websites, which introduced its revolutionary AI-powered solution in 2016. Wix ADI provides users with a system that uses machine learning to create a personalized design solution for each customer. This software asks the user questions about the person’s business and the desired site’s purpose and outputs numerous fitting design options to choose from. The platform takes the accessibility of graphic design to the next level, enabling anyone to receive a beautiful and unique design in a matter of minutes.
Tools for Professional Graphic Designers
Adobe Sensei is a great example of how enhancing A.I. can be for graphic design professionals. This software is incredibly multifunctional. It can help designers adjust aspect ratios, deploy images on different platforms, blend pictures together, animate visual content, and much more.
Also, software like Colormind incorporates deep neural networks to offer the best color palettes based on the user’s input. This platform analyzes the provided images, movies, and other forms of visual content to help designers find the most suitable palettes for their work.
The Impact of AI on Graphic Design Jobs
As the capabilities of A.I. systems grow, it’s natural to develop reservations about how safe and efficient this technology is. Graphic designers may feel particularly concerned about keeping their jobs as AI-powered software is growing more and more proficient in creating art.
A case from Nutella demonstrates that some of these fears are justified. In 2017, a machine learning algorithm managed to generate 7 million unique designs for Nutella packaging, all of which were successfully deployed and sold as a limited edition. These designs were not particularly eye-catching, but they worked well with Nutella’s incredibly recognizable logo.
Another example of machines replacing human employees is presented by Netflix. The company is already using artificial intelligence systems to translate content on banners and posters into numerous languages, with barely any human input.
These two cases indicate that while the majority of jobs in the industry will remain intact, some entry-level positions have a good chance of disappearing. While A.I. has enormous processing power, graphic designers have the creativity and the ability to make decisions based on factors that machines are not yet able to include in their calculations. The best course of action for graphic designers, therefore, is to learn to use the new tools and integrate A.I. into their work, rather than give up on this field completely.
