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There’s a weird tension in the creative world right now.
You’ve probably felt it—maybe while scrolling Instagram, jaw clenched, looking at another perfectly AI-rendered “masterpiece” and thinking:
Wait... is that art?
It’s beautiful. It’s fast.
And it’s kind of freaking everyone out.
Because AI is everywhere now. It can draw, design, animate, write, compose. It can generate styles based on actual human genius, mash them together, and spit them out in seconds. And (gasp)... some of it looks 'ok'.
But here’s the thing:
Looking 'ok' isn’t the same as being good.
Humans Know What Humans Make
A recent study from Columbia Business School confirmed what so many of us instinctively feel:
People consistently preferred human-made art over AI-generated art—even when the visuals were nearly identical.
Human-made work was seen as more impressive, more beautiful, and more emotionally moving. Why?
Because people want to feel the presence of a person behind the work. A story. A soul.
AI can remix, but it can’t wrestle.
It doesn’t get inspired.
It doesn’t make decisions with heart.
It doesn’t have a point of view.
And as a creative director and designer, I can tell you straight up: I can spot AI-generated work instantly.
It’s lifeless. Safe. Shiny in the worst way.
There’s no tension. No emotion. No story.
It looks like what it is: computer-generated filler.
The Rise of the Bland Brand
Let me say something that might sting a little:
We’re about to see a tidal wave of small businesses that all look... exactly the same.
Same layouts. Same recycled icons. Same lazy, overused sans-serifs. Same AI-churned color palettes.
All built with a few prompts, a few Canva templates, and no real design brain behind the choices.
You’ll start to see it. You probably already have.
And it breaks my heart a little.
Because the bar for launching a brand used to be vision, originality, intention.
Now it’s a trending font and a $12 logo.
And that’s not design. That’s decoration.
AI isn’t that good. Trust me.
And the truth is: without a designer’s eye, years of experience, and deep knowledge of design principles, you end up with something that looks like everything else. Or worse—something you’re embarrassed to put on a shirt.
This is where AI exposes the gap between “I can make a logo” and “I know how to build a brand.”
Will AI replace designers? No.
But will it flood the internet with copy-paste, dead-eyed branding that confuses sameness for success?
Yeah. That’s already happening.
Art Starts on Paper
For me, design doesn’t begin on a screen.
It starts with a pencil and paper and way too many ideas.
It starts with questions, not templates.
Who’s this for?
What do they care about?
What story do we want to tell?
Only then do I move to the screen and start crafting something that actually means something.
That’s the difference between using tools and letting the tools use you.
The Process Is the Product
The more AI-generated work floods the market, the more your human process becomes your secret weapon.
Show the sketches. Show the story. Show the slow, gritty, thoughtful work you poured into the thing.
That’s what makes it art, not output.
That’s what builds a brand with soul.
So What Happens Now?
AI isn’t going away. It’s not just a trend—it’s a tool.
And like all tools, it can either be a threat or a companion, depending on how you use it.
Some artists will collaborate with it—treating it like a funky, fast-thinking assistant.
Others will double down on slow, soulful, analog processes.
Both paths are valid. Both paths are human.
But here’s the invitation, no matter where you land:
Don’t just create—show up.
Be real. Be raw. Let your process be visible.
Because in a world full of flawless fakes, the most powerful thing you can do is be honest and alive.
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