Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many industries, including design. While many assume AI’s role in design is to create visual assets, the reality is more nuanced. Hannah Passmann, a Senior Art Director at Palmer Hargreaves, has developed an AI assistant on the Langdock platform for a unique application.
Passmann, who is dyslexic, uses her AI bot to enhance her internal and external communication. This tool is not about generating visuals but about overcoming communication challenges. The AI helps her express her creativity in words, making her feel acknowledged and taken seriously.
Passmann describes the AI as a “safe space” where she can share her thoughts, and the bot translates them into something comprehensible for others. During its training, she realized the importance of clearly presenting her challenges to the AI. By recognizing her own limitations and conveying them to the bot, it can assist her in formulating her ideas. “AI forces us to hold an honest mirror up to ourselves,” she explains.
Over time, the AI has improved in understanding Passmann, asking questions, identifying errors, and correcting them. However, she sometimes finds herself frustrated, ending chat sessions after about fifteen minutes. “You must not humanize AI; it happens very quickly in communication,” Passmann notes.
Besides communication assistance, Passmann uses the AI program Midjourney in her daily work. However, she avoids using it for complete design creation due to legal concerns, especially regarding client data. Midjourney serves as a sparring partner when colleagues are unavailable. Passmann anticipates that her current role may not exist in a few years, given the rapid evolution of AI.
To learn more about Passmann’s approach and the workings of her AI bot, you can listen to her discussion in a podcast episode on t3n Interview.
AI’s role in design is expanding beyond mere asset creation. It can support designers in expressing their ideas and overcoming personal challenges. As AI technology continues to advance, it will likely reshape the landscape of creative professions.