GRAPHIC DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION
Human Created Design
Slagle Design does not use Artificial Intelligence to generate design concepts, illustrations, packaging, photography, or any other deliverables. We also do not use AI to replace writers, strategists, animators, videographers, developers, or any other creative partners. We are proud to work with incredibly experienced professionals to create and share your unique brand story–and the results speak for themselves.
Human created design emphasizes the intrinsic value of the creative process—the individual story, the problem-solving, and the spark of consciousness—rather than just the final output.
While AI operates on pattern recognition and statistical probabilities, delivering generic results, true human creativity involves:
Authenticity
Great design is nuanced and draws from personal experience: joy, memories, connection, and cultural traditions, in-person meetings and facility tours, that Artificial Intelligence cannot experience.
Intentionality
Human creators make conscious choices about what to omit, what to emphasize, and what risks to take. We can work with business owners to ensure the final designs are speaking in their unique brand voice to their target audience.
Tried & True Processes
Decades of experience, sketching ideas on paper, collaborative in-person meetings, working through multiple concepts and "happy accidents" that happen during the design process, all lead to a meaningful finished product.
Is there a place for AI in the creative process?
Software
We use AI tools to streamline parts of our production workflow while keeping human creative control. Examples include using Photoshop’s generative fill to extend or repair backgrounds, and AI-assisted tools to speed up masking and selection tasks that would otherwise take hours. In Illustrator, AI can help extend or resize illustrations for different formats — always building on artist-created artwork rather than replacing the design process with prompts.
Mockups
To evaluate designs in context, we typically use Photoshop mockups and physical prototypes. Occasionally we generate photorealistic mockups with AI to visualize t-shirts, packaging, and other applications. These mockups are a tool for our team and clients to preview how a design will look in the real world and identify adjustments before production.
Search & Discovery
We use search engines and AI assistants — such as Google Search, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini — to support research and discovery. Writers and strategists consult AI for due diligence, inspiration, and best-practice guidance. AI also assists with editing, spell-checking, and grammar corrections, but it does not replace the team’s writing or editorial judgment.
Reference Images
When developing illustration concepts, AI can generate reference images for poses, environments, and composition ideas. These references inform the creative process but do not substitute for original, human-made artwork.
Short answer: yes.
Just as computers replaced typesetters and paste-up artists and digital cameras supplanted film and darkrooms, new technology can make design work more efficient and productive. Those tools still depend on people to make the strategic and creative decisions informed by intuition and experience. We draw the line when strategy and creativity are handed over to AI. At Slagle Design we deliver personal, tailored experiences for each client — we don’t leave your brand to chance.