The Impact of AI on Graphic Design: Future Prospects and Current Practices

This image was generated by AI, it took 11 times for AI to get it right too!

Whether it be a pencil, paintbrush, pen, or mouse; every artist has their favorite tools. I, myself, thoroughly enjoy acrylic on a canvas, however I am quickly falling in love with the stylus on a touch screen tablet. Graphic Design is swiftly dominating the marketing scene, and with that, comes the power of AI. By now, we have all become spoiled to the ease of AI on our devices and can enjoy the cute ways it takes our image and transforms the mundane into magnificent; but did you know that AI can be used for so much more? Where do we draw the line? Just like every cutting edge technology, there are both opportunities and challenges with the use of AI and its impact on Graphic Design. 

Generative Design and Automation:

Set-it-and-forget-it has become the motto for 2025 and AI is the leading assistant in automation. Many Graphic Designers are now utilizing AI to automate routine tasks such as creating multiple layout variations or adjusting color schemes. By having AI handle the minutiae of daily tasks, designers are now able to focus more on the creative aspects of their work (Graphic Design Junction 2025). 

Enhanced Creativity and Efficiency:

How many times have you had brain fog when trying to constantly come up with new content for your social media, or needed to solve a problem but were too overwhelmed? AI has become an effective tool in streamlining workflow as well as opening up new possibilities for creativity that we, as humans, might not have even considered. Don’t get me wrong, we humans are pretty creative, but having the ability to utilize the intelligence of the internet at our fingertips is always a plus when it comes to expanding the creative process. So go ahead, play with AI designs and see how it may inspire you and your business(Inkboth Design 2025). 

Ethical Considerations and Challenges:

Now we get into the juicy part of this fun Artificial Intelligence, ethics. Where do we as a society draw the ethical line of using AI to build a business? To start, we need to understand how AI works. It is not some magical fairy that delivers 100% original ideas and art to our doorstep (which would be lovely but that would have other ramifications, I’m sure). Artificial Intelligence is just that, artificial. AI essentially takes all the information that can be collected throughout the internet and provides the user with the most pertinent information. The same technology is utilized to create art with AI, but instead of information, it is every image that exists in the world wide web and then creates a chimera to fit the requests of the user. So far, AI art has been easy to spot as it forgets about the laws of physics and may fuse the subject of the art into the surrounding scenery or give a few extra fingers to Grandpa Joe. With this being said, AI is improving at an accelerated pace and will eventually overcome its own flaws which will make it near impossible to differentiate between authentic and artificial. My advice? Use AI as the tool it was designed to be; let it help you get over your creative funk with the inspiration it can provide, let it help calculate and formulate the parts of your business that could use enhancements in workflow, but don’t let it run your whole company. Humans are crucial to the progress of humanity, and if we begin to rely too heavily on AI, then we begin to lose the creativity that makes us unique. 

Impact on Employment:

Just look at your local discount store or neighborhood grocery, self-checkout has become a popular replacement for a human cashier. With the way AI is being integrated into graphic design, it will become more skilled at handling more complex design tasks which will eventually lead to shifts in employment and skill sets in job requirements as well (Digital Information World).  If one were smart, one would continue to build individual creativity, but not wholly dismiss the understanding of how to properly utilize AI to their advantage.  

Future Skills and Adaptation:

When the calculator became the latest popular tool to…well…calculate, we had to evolve our understanding of math as well. A person still had to learn addition and subtraction in order to learn how to work with numbers, even on a calculator. The same logic (however crude a comparison it may be) can be said for AI. We can either embrace the advances of technology, or miss out on potential opportunities in our future. It is important to learn as much as you can in this world, you never know what skills you might need one day. Evolve with AI and graphic design, adapt by acquiring new skills that complement AI tools, learn how AI software works and understand its learning processes and this will help you stay relevant in this industry(AND Academy). Once you stop learning, then you begin to fall behind. Will AI take your job? Only if you let it. So, go out there and think not only outside the box, but outside the ones and zeros too. Become the most valuable member of your team and do great things. I believe in you.