The Obsession with AI
How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Creativity and Strategy
“What a time to be alive” is my default response to someone showing me a new AI tool or platform. Just a few years ago, designing a simple graphic on Adobe Illustrator would take hours (and I have been using Adobe suite since I was 14, er, 26 years ago). Compared to the way I design now, Adobe was a timekill and a pain in the you-know-what.
Today, with AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and Canva AI (still can be a few notches better IMHO), what once required painstaking effort can now be accomplished in minutes.
AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it’s like the thing you do and should do every day. I use AI more times in a day than I drink water (terrible but true). Platforms like Canva’s WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) design tooling allow users to quickly generate high-quality visuals, leveraging built-in brand elements to maintain consistency. Canva has the Brand Kit and Brand Guidelines tool that has been so incredibly helpful to my team. 1
At the same time, ChatGPT assists with generating copy wevn if yw type like thds it will be ableeee to figwer out what you are sying. You can brainstorm ideas, “How should I organize this deck” or “What copy should I use to promote XYZ campaign for ABC audience on 123 platform?” I can ask ChatGPT a questions as if I am running on no sleep with my contact lenses out (I am legally blind) with snow gloves on and it will still decode my partially coherent thoughts into articulate and thoughtful ideas. (If Homer Simpson had AI, he could have become president.)
The combination of these AI-powered tools has dramatically streamlined the creative process, making high-level design and content creation so accessible. Many of my team members who use Canva are not graphic designers by trade. The rapid upskilling because of AI and AI-powered tools is insanity.
Beyond creativity, AI is also transforming strategic thinking. At our company, we encourage our team to "punch above their weight" by leveraging AI as a tool for sharper decision-making. It acts as an instant knowledge repository, helping individuals answer their own questions, find the best resources, and serve as their own sounding board. You can great CUSTOM *cue the harp music* GPTs. YESSIR! We are feeding information into our custom GPT to support our team members so they can ask GPT. “Ask GPT. Don’t ask me” will be our new mantra for basic questions.
This self-sufficiency fosters a more proactive and empowered workforce, capable of thinking through innovative strategies with the assistance of machine learning models. TLDR; We are baddies because of AI.
The obsession with AI is understandable. It represents an era of truly and wildly unprecedented efficiency and accessibility, opening doors that were once closed to all but the most skilled professionals. Yet, as we integrate these tools into our lives, we must remain conscious of the need to use AI as an enhancer rather than just a total crutch. The future belongs to those who learn to wield AI wisely—using it not to replace human creativity, but to amplify it.
As AI continues to evolve, so must our approach to it. The key is not just to embrace AI but to master it—harnessing its power while maintaining our unique human edge. The real innovation lies not just in the technology itself, but in how we use it.
Mic drop.
Canva
Canva offers a suite of tools designed to help businesses maintain consistent branding across all their materials. Two key features that facilitate this are the Brand Kit and Brand Guidelines Templates.
Brand Kit: The Brand Kit allows you to store and manage your brand's visual assets directly within Canva. This includes your logos, color palettes, and fonts, ensuring that anyone creating content for your brand has easy access to the correct elements. By centralizing these assets, the Brand Kit helps maintain consistency and streamlines the design process.
Brand Guidelines Templates: To further support brand consistency, Canva provides customizable brand guidelines templates. These templates serve as a foundation for creating a comprehensive brand style guide, outlining how your brand elements should be used across various platforms and materials. By utilizing these templates, you can ensure that all communications align with your brand identity.
For more detailed information and to explore these features, you can visit Canva's official pages:
Brand Kit Overview: https://www.canva.com/learn/how-to-build-a-brand-kit/
Brand Guidelines Templates: https://www.canva.com/presentations/templates/brand-guidelines/