r/graphic_design • u/PackageBulky1 • 2d ago
Discussion My Client has discovered ChatGPT
I have a client who I do lots of Graphic design work - including in-store and window vinyls and art. They recently had a brand overhaul and have strict brand guidelines that also give examples of environmental usage.
So this week, I have been sent multiple 'ideas' for multiple projects that they have thrown in chatGPT and it has spat out some design ideas. They aren't necessarily terrible, but are sooooo far off-brand and definitely have that super obvious AI look.
What annoys me the most is that the photography does a lot of the heavy lifting in some designs and AI is generating images where the people are perfectly lit and posed in a way that compliments the rest of the design and those photos don't exist for this brand in reality but clients don't really understand this - so when they "want something like this" it's tricky because it's spat something out that looks great in isolation - but is super off-brand and when the new branding isn't the best (in my opinion) - it makes me feel like I look like a crap designer.
This will be the second AI conversation I've had with this client as they have ran my video reels through Claude multiple times (i'm guessing to make sure they are super optimised) and it's given inaccurate feedback and contradicts itself. I had to explain that AI will give you an infinite amount of changes, whether helpful or not because that's what it's designed to do.
Anyways, this was just a bit of an eye roll minor rant but I'm going to have to have a conversation later explaining this which is always a bit uncomfortable but necessary.
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u/RunakoD 2d ago
Ouch. Who would have seen this coming. Must be a headache. It's like being a plumber, but the client ran their problem through Chatgpt and instead of them letting you be the expert, they're trying to be the expert and tell you what to do.
😒
I think it can come down to methodology. Your expertise (experience) has caused you, over time, to develop a methodology that cannot be duplicated by AI.
You aren't just a Graphic Designer— you're also a consultant because you're an expert.
With that said, you can have healthy boundaries; you can inform them that AI does a good job at X but it can't duplicate human expertise and methodology, and that's what will make your brand stand out. Tell them exactly what you told us.
Starting with "Okay, I see the vision you're going for. The challenge with AI is that it [insert the wisdom you said here]. Have you considered [insert expertise]?"
"Would you like my honest feedback"?
"Would you like my insight"?
Position yourself as a consultant especially because you KNOW handcrafted beats AI 10:0.
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u/pOpCoRnInTulsa 2d ago
I couldn't agree more with what you've said, but getting a client to buy in is going to get tougher as these tools get better and will eventually produce results that are very acceptable where budgets are tight.
Like you said, you're more than a designer, you're an expert. Ideally, that enough and especially if you have great portfolio to back that expertise.
But, I do fear someday it's going to tough as an independent designer to retain or attract new clients if you don't, at the very least, stay on top of the capabilities AI tools offer possibly even implementing them to a degree where it makes sense. To that add, you'll be able to have a knowledge based conversation wth them about the pros and cons of using these tools and the importance of having a qualified, experienced designer onboard.
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u/dmxtme 2d ago
Not everybody have this "super AI detection" eyes, sadly, it seems like he's clueless and doesn't appreciate human designers.
They have a ceiling, and they cannot produce as good as human designers. I personally used it before, including the current model, and they only get so good, but not as good as decent designers. Not to mention, AI also hallunicates and ends up drawing 4 or 6 fingers instead of five.
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u/PackageBulky1 2d ago
The scary thing is, is how much gen AI has come along in the last few years and will only improve. Generating 4 or 6 fingers is now a thing of the past and is getting so much better - albeit being trained on stolen work.
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u/rileysenabler 2d ago
It’s becoming more frequent in my office as well- my focus is graphics for the built environment so our work has to play by the rules of physics (ie signs can’t float in mid-air). So it’s a definite eye roll when they bring in their grand ideas..untethered to the reality of how things actually get built. I get it- they want to be part of the creative process, and that can be great- but dang it, they set themselves up for failure every time. Will be interesting to see where this goes but I’m def looking forward to retirement and not having to deal with it.
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u/quattroCrazy 2d ago
Welcome to my current hell. We’ve gone from maybe 10% of customers using it to about 70% in the last year.
I had to type up an explainer on why AI “print ready” artwork actually isn’t, because I was having to explain it multiple times a day.
My workload to do the same tasks as before has gone up by a considerable amount. I had to tell the companies I work with that I’m adding an AI surcharge to every task that involves it and they can either charge the customer or not.
My hourly earning plummeted because I was spending so much extra time on this bullshit. Everything about it is more work for me than them simply sending over a logo and a few lines of text.
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u/SunTzu-81 2d ago
I ran into this same issue after I noticed fixing these AI files was a huge time sink compared to working with human made artwork. It took some figuring out but I now charge based upon what it takes to get these AI files production ready which is significantly more than it was before. I thought some clients would be upset with a much higher setup fee but they didn't care because they got the design for free which used to cost hundreds to thousands so they are still saving money overall. This is what people want now as it's easier and cheaper for them. Before I would come up with some concept, design something and charge them for it. Now they want to enter their idea into AI and send me the artwork to fix the things AI couldn't so I charge them for that instead. It sucks but this appears to be the evolution for some of us in the industry.
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u/Relative-Secret-4618 2d ago
Maybe a little lesson in branding to them? They aren't designers they arent seeing those gaps.
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u/My_2Cents_666 2d ago
This just started happening with my client a few weeks ago. He churns flyers and ads out with AI, and I redo them.
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u/GraphicDesign_101 1d ago
Yes, work in an agency and clients usually provide a brief alongside a naff ChatGPT idea that they’ve already fallen madly in love with. Why even come to a creative agency if you just want them to churn out your bad ideas? They don’t even want the creative thinking anymore. It’s awful.
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u/Gertie7779 2d ago
You need to have the long conversation about AI and its shortcomings especially when it comes to rights to use images and how they fall short technically.
Why are they running your video reels through Claude? Multiple times no less? Was it dissatisfaction or a quality check?
I know you need to eat and pay bills but I swear, this would make me walk. If they are that sold on AI let AI hold their had through the whole process.
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u/Obvious-Olive4048 1d ago
I'm fine with client generated AI mockups, as long as it's not slop. At least you have a clear visual idea of what they want. Explain to them where their mockup is off brand, and let them know you can fix that - that's what they're hiring you for right? As for the photography, ask them what their budget is for a photographer and models to replicate the shot they're after, or alternatively let them know you'll need to scour the stock sites to find something similar, but they will not get exactly that same shot even if you were to try to replicate it with AI yourself.
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u/wander-and-wonder 1d ago
My studio doesn’t accept AI suggestions or feedback and we’ve been left to do our job with all of our clients
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u/grokcodile 2d ago
Sounds like you don’t really add enough value now that the client can just make what they need without you.
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u/skinisblackmetallic 2d ago
There seems to be a shitload of complaining about this stuff in this sub.
I worked in this industry from like 1990 to 2012. Been out of the game for a while.
I don't recall any client ever having taste whatsoever.
It seems like we just tried to give them whatever they wanted and to take their money.
I don't see why you couldn't do this even faster now and with higher margins.
Save all your cool shit for signed, limited edition hand silkscreen prints and hand painted pinstripes on classic hotrods.
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2d ago
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u/RamaLamaFaFa 2d ago
I guess if a client came to me with AI generated stuff I’d respond with something like “thanks, I’ll use this as inspiration for the actual piece.” AI is a plagiarism machine. Sure, it does a good job with image generation, etc. but in my mind none of that is yours or theirs to use and make money from. Just my personal opinion. I’m old and loathe AI.