WHERE AI FITS INTO YOUR GRAPHIC DESIGN WORKFLOW (WITHOUT KILLING THE VIBE)
AI is everywhere — but how do you actually use it in a way that supports your creativity, rather than flattening it?
When I first started experimenting with AI, I didn’t know where it belonged in my process. What I’ve learned — and what we teach at House of gAi — is this: when you combine your design strategy, thinking, and intuition with AI tools, your process doesn’t get replaced. It gets supercharged.
Most designers I talk to fear that AI will take over. That it’s here to generate average work at scale — replacing creatives altogether. And yes, it can do that if left on autopilot. But that’s not how great design works.
Without your intent, your perspective, your way of solving problems — AI is just remixing what’s already out there.
But when you bring the design process — the strategy, the structure, the story — and use AI as a tool to explore ideas faster and push them further? That’s where the magic happens.
Image created in MidJourney by House of gAi
START HERE: THE 30% RULE FOR FOR AI TOOLS IN DESIGN
According to the 2025 State of AI in Design Report, the majority of designers are using AI during the first 30% of their workflow — think moodboarding, research, ideation, and early concept development. Not at the polished execution stage. Not in the client delivery phase. At the beginning — where ideas are still messy, fragile, and full of potential.
This is how AI in graphic design workflows is showing up today. And we call this the 30% Rule — a low-pressure way to explore where AI can bring value without taking over your creative identity.
WHY THAT MATTERS FOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
This is a mindset shift.
It means AI isn’t about replacement — it’s about enhancement. Used well, it can:
Spark ideas you wouldn’t have reached alone
Free you from creative blocks
Speed up repetitive or slow early tasks (hello, references!)
But it can also feel overwhelming. Where do you even start?
START HERE: A CREATIVE WORKFLOW THAT INTEGRATES AI
Here’s a simple example of how AI can support a design project — without skipping the process:
Let’s say you’re designing a brand for a sustainable skincare startup.
Start with the story
Use ChatGPT to generate metaphors or archetypes for your brand direction. Prompt it with: “Give me five metaphorical brand narratives for a sustainable skincare brand rooted in nature and youth culture.”Sketch with visuals
Use Midjourney to explore visual directions: textures, forms, natural packaging, or tone-of-voice moodboards. Think of it like visual brainstorming — not your final design.Build and refine
Use Figma AI, Notion AI, or Runway to shape visual identity themes, UI frameworks, or creative presentation decks. You're still the designer — you're just moving faster and further.
USING AI FOR BRANDING: INSIDE THE AI FOR BRANDING MASTERCLASS
his exact concept is baked into our Masterclass.
In Weeks 2 and 3, we’ll explore:
AI-supported ideation methods
Brand concept development using ChatGPT + Midjourney
How to visually interpret a brand story using AI without losing originality
You’ll also get frameworks to document and communicate your creative process (including where AI fits in) — something many designers struggle to articulate.
Want a preview? Download our AI creative worksheet for designers and map out how AI could support your next project.
LET’S TALK PROCESS
Every designer’s workflow is different. That’s the beauty of it.
Where do you see AI helping you most? Is it research? Ideation? Generating reference images? Something else?
Drop your thoughts in the Creative Futures Hub — or share this post with someone who’s still trying to figure out where to start.
We’ll keep showing up with resources, tools, and mindsets that help you stay creative, not replaced.
“Creativity doesn’t come from the tool — it comes from the questions you ask it.”
Ready to take it further? Join the AI Branding Masterclass starting June 24. We’ll go deeper into how to build, present, and own your creative direction with AI in the mix. Perfect for designers ready to learn AI for branding design.