Overview
AI isn’t coming for your job—but designers who use AI effectively will outpace those who don’t. This course cuts through the hype and fear to show you exactly how AI tools can make you faster, more creative, and more valuable. You’ll learn what AI can and cannot do, how to use it without losing your creative voice, and where it fits into real design workflows.
Over two days, you’ll work with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and AI features built into Photoshop and InDesign. You’ll practice prompt engineering, learn to catch and correct AI mistakes, and build workflows that let you focus on the creative decisions only humans can make—while AI handles the tedious parts.
Format: 2 Days | VILT or On-Site
Who Should Attend
- Graphic designers and illustrators exploring AI tools
- Layout professionals working in InDesign and Photoshop
- Creative teams developing AI policies and workflows
- Any designer curious—or concerned—about AI’s role in their work
What You’ll Learn
- Write effective prompts that get useful results from AI tools
- Identify what AI does well—and where it fails or fabricates
- Use AI for idea generation without replacing your creative judgment
- Apply Generative Expand and AI features in Photoshop and InDesign
- Leverage AI for non-creative tasks: contracts, admin, and client communication
- Build workflows that combine AI efficiency with human creativity
Course Outline
Module 1: AI Fundamentals for Designers
- How AI language models and image generators actually work (without the jargon)
- What AI can do: pattern matching, generation, summarization, and transformation
- What AI cannot do: original thinking, judgment, taste, and accountability
- Reframing AI as ally, assistant, and apprentice—not replacement
Module 2: Prompt Engineering for Creative Work
- Writing prompts that produce useful, specific results
- Iterating and refining: getting better output through conversation
- Providing context, examples, and constraints for more accurate responses
- Common prompt mistakes and how to avoid them
Module 3: Preventing and Correcting AI Mistakes
- Understanding hallucinations: why AI confidently says wrong things
- Verification techniques: fact-checking AI output before using it
- Hedging strategies: using AI for drafts and ideas, not final answers
- When to trust AI—and when to do the work yourself
Module 4: AI-Assisted Ideation and Concept Development
- Using AI for brainstorming, mood boards, and concept exploration
- Generating rough sketches and visual directions (not final artwork)
- Creating consistent variations: icons, patterns, and visual systems
- Knowing when AI-generated concepts need human refinement
Module 5: AI in Photoshop and InDesign
- Generative Fill and Generative Expand for layout problem-solving
- Extending backgrounds, removing objects, and creating composite elements
- AI-assisted image editing workflows that save time
- Limitations and quality control: when generative tools fall short
Module 6: AI for Client Copy and Marketing Content
- Revising and improving client-supplied marketing copy
- Generating first-draft headlines, taglines, and body copy
- Adapting content for different formats and audiences
- Maintaining brand voice while using AI assistance
Module 7: AI for Business and Admin Tasks
- Using AI to interpret and summarize contracts and agreements
- Improving your own contracts and proposals with AI review
- Drafting client emails, project briefs, and status updates
- Behind-the-scenes AI uses that save time without touching creative work
Module 8: Building Your AI-Assisted Workflow
- Identifying tasks in your workflow where AI adds value
- Setting boundaries: where human judgment must remain
- Documenting AI use for clients and teams
- Staying current as AI tools evolve
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
- No prior AI experience required
- Access to ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini (free tiers are sufficient)
- Adobe Photoshop and/or InDesign CC with Generative AI features enabled
Customization Options
This course can be customized around your team’s specific concerns and workflows—whether you’re focused on editorial design, marketing production, illustration, or client services. We can explore the AI tools most relevant to your work and develop guidelines that fit your organization’s policies on AI use.