Once upon a time, you’re walking on a festive night where everywhere you go, you seen those nicely designed posters by big names (Coca-Cola or Starbucks). Then you went home, there ads playing on TV, real emotional ads from famous actors. The impacts from those are so strong that you remembered it even their taglines! (Yusuff Taiyoob ~). Nowadays, you can still see those posters but it just a lazily generated posters by AI. And there’s still ads, but it’s no longer emotional ads by real actors, it just another AI generated ads, it’s generic and soulless. No offense for AIs, some generated really good while some just are morphing nightmares.

As AI slowly takeover most of what designers usually been doing then where all been ended up at? Are all completely out of jobs since AI could do it better with lower cost?

The AI Boom in Malaysian Advertising

Why AI For Every Single Little Things?

It’s convenience, save costs and easy. And with a lot of alternatives to choose from too. It slowly takeover everything that require advertising.

• Faster Visual Production: Brands can produce 5–10 posters in minutes using AI. In fast-paced projects, this already a major advantage
• Cost-Effective: Without designing stuffs manually really save a lot. How much it will really cost to hire designers or getting a subscription on Adobe Creative Cloud?
• Unlimited Variations: Seamlessly change colors, taglines, sizes, fonts just by simple text prompts. It just so simple to test the everything around.

But What About the Designers?

Designers aren’t being replaced, in fact, they’re evolving.

• Using AI for Prototypes: In early concept stages, it’s quicker to generate mockups. When the base are built, it able skip the earlier design process.
• Enhancing Workflows: AI builds mood boards and draft layouts faster. When the drafts are out, designers could take it from there for the details.
• Focusing on Strategy: Designers spend more time on creative direction. Mastering the art of storytelling for the AI to understand it and visualize.
• Preserving Culture: Human designers bring emotional and cultural context to visuals. AI yet to simulate that as it haven’t able to understand the local cultures completely.
• Combining AI with Manual: Blends AI tools into traditional design processes. Where able to touch up on the design after been generated.

Why Human Touch Still Matters

AI generates visuals., it can be beautiful and so good however..

• It lacks emotional depth: Festive visuals need warmth and nostalgia. Something to call back and iconic. It’s always better to have actors showing real emotion.
• It doesn’t understand culture: Malaysian festivities are rich in symbols and tradition. AI can’t dig that.
• It can’t tell a story: Humans still wins in story-telling. AI may not able to replicate an effective story.