For the record, at no point do I use any AI image makers to generate my designs. Not for any of my product ranges or collections. The only AI generated visuals on Illofy, are some of the mock ups which show my products in-situ and on models. Everything else is the result of a very human and rewarding graft from my hand and heart.
My human belief
I believe in keeping what I’m striving to achieve pure and human. My message is all about “rebelling kindly”, whether that’s against stereotypical wall art with a message or positive apparel which communicates radical hope and joy. Love, kindness, hope and joy are all human attributes I strive to put out in the world, so to artificially generate anything would be fake in my book and go against my aspirations for Illofy.
My process for creation
As within my freelance business, my process for creating designs and artworks usually follow some basic steps.
- The seed of an idea usually starts with words. This usually comes from a phrase or a play on words which I can be the springboard for something great. I keep these words safe in a notes app on my phone so I don’t forget them.
- When I want to create something, I raid my notes and begin sketching out an idea. This usually happens on my iPad using various drawing apps. As I draw, I research visual references on Google and Pinterest. Initially I lean into the obvious and the cliche and see how I can combine visuals together to creative something unique. My goal is always to keep things stylised and illustrative.
- One I have thumb-nailed a few ideas I’ll pick my favourite which communicates most effectively and will draw it up. Depending on the style I hope to achieve will greatly influence whether I work analogue (brush, ink, paint etc) or digitally using a digital drawing app like Procreate.
- Once I have played around with colour and form and I’m happy I will then get the design ready to put on to a product or two. This involves getting the design onto my computer and resizing within Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, saving out in correct file format and colour profile depending on what I’m going to use it for.
No matter what I do along these steps, I keep everything true and a pure. True in that it comes from my own hand and viewpoint, and pure in a way that I haven’t cheated customers and followers by using a an image generator to make anything. I don’t ever want to lose the human touch and in turn that human message.
Radical Provenance Promise
In a world of AI generated, print-on-demand products, I’m putting a flag in the sand and making a promise to you that I will never use image generators (or stock libraries) to build my designs. Everything is from the desk, brain and heart of me… a real life human creative, on a mission to spread some simple positivity with attitude and joy.
