Latest news with #graphicdesign
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Scarred by Afghanistan, Ottawa-area veteran finds healing, purpose in art
Anxiety is a relatively new feeling for retired warrant officer John Gorrell. It's not something he experienced before he joined the Canadian Armed Forces, nor during much of his 31 years of service. But over the last couple of years, it's something he's had to battle every day — though it's been made easier with the launch of his graphic design business and a vibrant new project in one eastern Ontario town. Gorrell can't pinpoint the moment he began struggling with his mental health, but says it can probably be traced back to his tours in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2010. He'd served in Croatia, Cyprus and Kosovo before that, but something was different about those tours. "There was always a threat hovering over us," he said. "We'd come back from patrol and we were just exhausted because of the stress and the anxiety. Exhausted. That's the only way I can describe it." The debilitating anxiety followed him home. He was diagnosed with PTSD and sought counseling. Then, a close friend and fellow soldier died by suicide in 2017. That was the "straw that broke the camel's back," Gorrell said, ending with him being medically released from the military. "[My friend] never talked about his mental struggles," he said. "His family knew something was wrong, but there was a stigma. You're a soldier, it's weak to have a mental illness." Gorrell says return to civilian life has been difficult because he was comfortable living a military life, and isn't used to dealing with "the way things present themselves in daily life." Turning to art Since retiring, he's retrained as a graphic designer and launched his own business, Crippled Chicken Creations. He says he's getting some work, although it's "not the greatest." Recently he's taken on one of his most ambitious projects yet: the painting of a large mural at the local bowling alley in Deep River, Ont. It's given him a routine, pride and purpose. "It's like going back to work again," he said. "I'm a bit nervous about what I'm going to do afterwards because it'll be a lot of free time on my plate." A common story in the veteran community Fardous Hosseiny, president and CEO of the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, says Gorrell's story speaks to how difficult it can be to find meaning in post-service life. "It's not just a career change. It's a full identity shift. Veterans are stepping away from a role that gave them structure, purpose and belonging," he said. The transition can be even more difficult for those who struggle with PTSD and the accompanying symptoms. Hosseiny says recent data shows there has been a sharp decline in veterans reporting good mental health, from 65 per cent in 2010 to just 40 per cent in 2019. There was also a spike in Canadian veterans looking for support and resources after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2010. "We did see that a lot of folks felt a sense of guilt because of the time they spent away from their family to help support the mission there and then what occurred," said Hosseiny. He says Atlas is pushing for moral injury to be recognized as a formal diagnosis, so there can be more research into treatment options that address the emotional and spiritual dimensions of trauma. As for Gorrell, he says his art has helped keep his trauma at bay. He says he'll keep focusing on it, and his children, and advises other veterans to do the same. "When I do art, the whole day goes by and I forget the issues I may have, there's no stress, no anxiety," he said. "You've got to find something you love."
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
17 Graphic Design Business Ideas For Entrepreneurs In 2025
Your graphic design skills are worth money. Maybe even a lot of money. Yes, this is still true even though AI is, indeed, stealing many creative-type jobs. Even so, smart graphic designers aren't folding up shop. They're changing with the market and creating graphic design businesses that tap the best of human talent and creativity—and maybe add AI into the mix for maximum productivity and efficiency. Sell templates, and you can pull in $70,000 to $300,000 a year. Offer subscription design services, and enjoy 40% to 45% client retention. Run an AI-enhanced studio, and you can charge 50% more than old-school shops. In fact, with the right graphic design business idea, it doesn't matter where you're at right now. Whether you're doodling logos on coffee shop napkins or already juggling client deadlines, you can find a path that works for you. Some ideas make you money while you sleep. Others let you charge premium rates for being the strategic thinker in the room. The best news? All solve problems people will happily pay you to fix. Start Making Money With Your Graphic Designs A graphic design business is any venture where you get paid to solve visual problems with logos, websites, packaging, social media content—whatever people need designed. What do you need to start? Design skills, software and hustle. I've seen people begin with nothing but Canva and a few shoutouts on Facebook and land their first $500 post within a week. Others invest in Adobe Creative Suite and LinkedIn trolling from day one. Both can work. The real challenge isn't having perfect tools, though. It's finding clients who'll pay what you're worth. Some designers struggle with pricing. Others get stuck doing everything instead of specializing. But here's the upside: almost zero overhead, work from anywhere and grow at your own pace. Master one type of design really well, and clients will pay premium rates. But beware: Spread yourself too thin, and you'll compete on price forever. Profitable Small Business Ideas In Graphic Design Graphic design business opportunities are everywhere. Ecommerce brands need packaging, SaaS companies need UI kits. Coaches need branded templates. Nonprofits need accessible designs. The demand never ends. But how do you pick a lane? Ask yourself: Sometimes the best opportunity is hiding in plain sight, like becoming known as the person who designs for pet groomers. Or like mixing weird things that shouldn't work together but do, like accessibility audits plus brand storytelling. Here are 17 graphic design business ideas that call for different skills and time commitments, and match different money goals. Pick one that feels doable today and gets you excited about tomorrow. If you don't like the idea of chasing one-off projects, offer unlimited design for a flat monthly fee instead. Design Pickle, one of the first to offer unlimited design, grew from three people to processing 12,000 requests a day in just five years using this exact method. You don't have to become another Pickle, but you do need strong project management skills, as you'll be juggling design work for multiple clients at the same time. Most solo designers can handle two to four monthly subscribers at $1,500 to $3,500 each without losing their minds or sacrificing quality. Brett Williams from DesignJoy figured out how to keep his roster at 12 clients, cranking out one to two designs per business day for each. The risk? If you don't deliver consistently or define what "unlimited" means, clients may bail. Your best bet is to go niche. Home in on things like 'LinkedIn content for SaaS founders' or 'podcast graphics for coaches' for the best stickiness and profits. Do you enjoy creating social graphics, presentations or lead magnets? With this graphic design business idea, you can design once, then sell the same thing over and over with zero custom client work. It's like the old 'make money while you sleep' promise, except it actually works. You need design skills (obviously) in Canva, Adobe or Figma, plus a few weeks to build your starter catalog. Mid-level sellers working this graphic design business typically earn $500 to $2,500 a month, while top designers with a specific focus—like selling to wedding planners or fitness coaches—easily pull in $5,000 to $20,000-plus per month on Creative Market and Etsy. The danger? Picking an overcrowded market where you're scrapping for pennies. Beat the crowd by getting laser-focused with your keywords. 'Canva templates for financial coaches' will crush generic 'LinkedIn social templates' every single time. The weirder and more specific, the better your odds of getting found. Sure, AI can churn out decent graphics in seconds. But clients pay premium rates for designs that feel custom and original. This graphic design business idea pairs robot speed with your creative brain and brand instincts. You need design skills and a desire to play with tools like Midjourney, DALL-E or Adobe Firefly. The magic with this graphic design business is that it cuts weeks of client back-and-forth into projects that wrap in two or three days. Hybrid studios doing this type of work price on results, not hours, which lets them charge 30% to 50% more than traditional agencies, with project fees ranging from $3,000 to $10,000-plus. The risk? Clients might expect unrealistic turnarounds or think 'AI does all the work.' You'll get your edge by positioning AI as your creative sidekick. Together, you solve visual problems with speed, consistency and strategic thinking, something neither pure AI nor pure manual work can do. Branding isn't just slapping logos on websites. It's telling stories people see, feel and remember. This graphic design business idea turns founder stories into visual narratives through illustrated timelines, comic-style origin stories, and brand journey graphics that make people care. For this graphic design business, you need illustration and storytelling abilities—plus the patience to interview busy founders who barely have time to breathe. Simple timeline graphics take a few days and run $500 to $2,000; brand story packages run $2,500 to $10,000-plus and take a few weeks. You'll earn the juiciest premiums (and client loyalty) by being part designer, part therapist, part brand strategist, all rolled into one. Studios like Craft&Root have built six-figure businesses in this exact niche. The main risk? Founders who love the idea of brand storytelling but hate the process of digging into their messy origin stories. Your advantage? Most designers stick to logos and websites, leaving brand storytelling completely wide open. Many small business owners know their visuals look off but can't fix the issues themselves. With this graphic design business idea, you'll offer one-time consulting services, where you'll review a client's full digital presence and hand them a prioritized fix-it list. (Do well with audits, and clients may ask you 'how much' for the fixes, too.) You'll need an eye for visual hierarchy, brand consistency and user experience, plus several hours for each audit, depending on how deep you go. Introductory audits can start small, at $80 to $150 per session. Larger audits vary: small businesses run $1,000 to $3,000, while reviews for more complex or larger companies could bring you a cool $15,000. Many studios use audits as relationship builders that lead to ongoing monthly retainers. The risk here is that some clients might expect you to fix everything instead of—or in addition to—just pointing out problems. But you'll have a huge advantage because you're the outside expert who spotted what they've gone blind to after staring at their own stuff for months. Did you know that 1.3 billion people around the world live with disabilities? I had no idea. But that number explains why accessibility isn't optional anymore, and why there's a growing demand for design that follows the Americans with Disabilities Act—but still looks fabulous to everyone. This graphic design business is a little more demanding because you need to understand the WCAG—or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines—plus color contrast rules and accessible typography principles. Quick audits take a day or two and can gross you $1,500 to $5,000. Complete redesigns take two to three weeks and can bring in $2,000 to $10,000-plus. Full-time accessibility designers average $93,000 in annual pay—that's 50% more than regular designers. The main risk here is the learning curve because accessibility guidelines are complex and constantly changing. But master accessibility design, and your advantage will be massive because it's a market most graphic design businesses completely ignore. Want to see your artwork on actual products people can hold? Design stickers, pins, notebooks and shirts with your art, and use print-on-demand (POD) services to skip inventory costs entirely. To make this graphic design business idea work, you'll need basic print production knowledge. Take a few days to come up with your initial designs, and then spend a few weeks building out a catalog. How much can you earn? Mid-level sellers bring in $500 to $2,000 a month. Well-oiled shops—those with search traffic, great copy and repeat buyers—can hit $5,000 to $20,000 a month. That's nice dough! For print-on-demand platforms, you have options that range from budget (like Printful) to premium (like Vervante). The risk? Fighting for attention in hot marketplaces like Etsy. But you can beat that heat by going hyper-niche: enamel pins for plant lovers, sarcastic tees for teachers or motivational stickers for burned-out millennials. Online creators need a steady supply of great visuals to go with the mountains of content they create. And though they may not have the budget for a full-time designer, they do have the budget for you. You can create customizable template packages that creators can use for consistent branding across all their platforms. For this graphic design business, you need to know a little something about creator workflows, social media formats and Canva or Adobe. Your first kit will likely take you a week or two. Allow time in your schedule for periodic updates. Beginning kit designers can earn between $200 and $2,000 a month. Designers who've been in business a while can do more, with some exceeding $10,000 a month. Be wary of jumping into an overcrowded niche where competition is brutal. As usual, you can beat the competition by getting hyper-specific. "LinkedIn carousels for financial advisors" will beat generic 'LinkedIn social templates' every time. Plus, you can land lots of repeat business by offering monthly refreshes and seasonal collections. Founders, consultants and lots of small business owners need help turning boring data into visuals that win over investors and clients. With this graphic design business idea, you'll specialize in pitch decks, presentations and data visualizations that place ideas and data at center stage for high-stakes meetings. You need design skills plus experience with data visualization and tight deadlines. Most projects are for average decks that take three to five days. Add more time for more slides and greater complexity. Freelancers typically charge $500 to $3,000 per project. Agencies get up to $10,000 for a comprehensive deck. Premium rates are a no-brainer here because well-designed presentations help close million-dollar deals. Clients know this; they expect deck designers to be utmost professionals. Your main risk is scope creep—clients pushing for perfection with endless revisions that eat your profits. Fight the creep crud by bundling revision packages upfront and developing signature layout styles that let you move through future projects faster. Here's a unique graphic design business idea: Design digital assets like icon packs, UI kits and custom fonts once, then license them to startups and agencies and collect passive income month after month. You need technical design skills plus an understanding of file formats, licensing terms and licensing marketplace requirements. Plan to spend a few weeks building your initial catalog, and then you'll be ready to generate passive income through marketplace sales or direct licensing deals. Side hustlers in this graphic design business typically earn $200 to $2,000 a month. Established sellers regularly bring in $2,000 to $10,000-plus monthly through Creative Market, Envato or direct licensing to tech companies. The risk? Creating assets that don't match current design trends or market demand. The way around it is to stay on trend. Also, consider offering seasonal collections and comprehensive design systems rather than random, individual pieces. People selling for profit are always looking for ways to reach the hearts and wallets of buyers. With this graphic design business idea, you can help businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs connect through visual timelines, illustrated bios and legacy posters that tell personal or company stories in compelling ways. You need illustration skills, storytelling abilities and interviewing techniques to pull stories from busy clients. Simple timeline graphics take two to three days and run $200 to $500. Larger visual biography projects take several weeks but can bring you $1,000 to $ 5,000 or more. Many entrepreneurs commission visuals like these as client gifts or onboarding pieces. And if they love your work, repeat business and referrals will naturally follow. Your main risk is taking on clients who struggle to tell you their stories or even to provide source materials. But if you can get past that risk, the advantage is huge because you'll be offering something most graphic design businesses completely overlook: deeply personal, emotionally resonant visual stories. Events are big sellers for graphic designers because events are visual experiences. With this graphic design business, you'll specialize in complete visual packages for events like conferences, weddings and festivals, creating logos, signage, swag and all the digital assets that make occasions look polished and pro. You need print and digital design skills, knowledge of event production workflows and the ability to work under rigid deadlines. Social branding kits for small events take three to five days and run $500 to $2,000. Complete conference branding packages take two to three weeks but can bring you $8,000 to $25,000-plus. Yes, that price sounds high, but event budgets can absorb premium rates because the stakes are also high—everything's public-facing and needs to look perfect. The risk? Event-planning chaos and last-minute change requests that destroy your sanity and risk the timeline. Fight back with pre-event design checklists, structured feedback loops, and rush fees built directly into your contracts. Think Canva killed the graphic design business? Nope. Even with Canva, most small business owners struggle to create consistent, on-brand visual content. (I personally attest to this struggle; design is not as easy as it looks.) With this graphic design business idea, you'll offer monthly design packages that keep clients' social feeds looking fresh, posh and pickled. You need design skills, brand expertise, and project management abilities to handle multiple clients each month. Expect to spend eight to 12 hours per client per month to deliver five to 10 designs to each. Retainer pricing for social media design ranges from $250 to $1,200 monthly per client, so a solo designer with five to eight clients at $750 each can expect $3,750 to $6,000 in recurring revenue. As with most other graphic design businesses, overhead stays low—mainly software and workflow tools. The risk involves client budget cuts, but clients who see consistent results from design work rarely cancel, making this one of the most stable graphic design business opportunities available. I speak from experience when I say that most solo business owners are drowning in design decisions. You can throw them a lifeline by becoming their fractional creative director—the voice of reason when they're staring at 17 font options at 2 a.m. You need solid design judgment and the patience to teach people how to see their brands through audience eyes. Some of your clients will want monthly check-ins; others will text photos of business cards they're considering. Expect to spend two to five hours per client per month for regular guidance. Fractional creative directors charge $100 to $250 per hour or $1,500 to $5,000 monthly retainers. The risk is scope creep—those "quick question" emails that turn into hour-long brand therapy sessions. The beauty here is that entrepreneurs who trust their creative advisor hold on tight. When you become someone's go-to design person, they won't let you go. Many businesses don't need full rebrands, just visual tune-ups. With this graphic design business idea, you do the tune-ups by offering brand refreshes that make tired logos and color palettes feel current without starting from scratch. You need an eye for what's working versus what's dated, plus the diplomacy to say "Your 2015 gradient logo needs help" without crushing souls. Minor brand refreshes take several days and run $700 to $2,500. Larger refreshes with multiple touchpoints go higher. Many designers offer day sprints with daily rates of $500 to $1,200. The risk? Clients who say they want refreshes but secretly hope you'll validate their Comic Sans business cards. Either that, or they think a refresh is a full rebrand. Attract the right business owners and set expectations properly by framing your refresh as a "low-lift, high-impact" update that will make an immediate difference. Good at layout or typography? With this graphic design business idea, printable wall art, planner pages and worksheets can become money-while-you-sleep income streams. They can even become a-lot-of-money-while-you-sleep income streams if you create bundles that appeal to tiny niches nobody else serves. You need design skills and, per usual, Canva or Adobe. Build a catalog of 20 to 30 products, then add new items monthly. Most beginners earn $40 to $400 a month; sellers who've been around for a while bring in $500 to $2,000. Reaching for the stars? Top sellers in hot niches like wedding invitations can easily rake in $10,000-plus. The beauty of a printables shop is that you design once and it sells forever—actual passive income. But Etsy is thick with competition, so you'll have to play smart. The best way is by niching—staking a claim where few dare to venture. Get super specific: Think "minimalist meal planners for overwhelmed working moms" or "sarcastic motivational prints for burned-out millennials." Are you an experienced graphic designer? Have you been around the block more than a few times? With this graphic design business idea, you'll make money helping aspiring creatives improve their designs through paid portfolio reviews, video critiques and half- or full-day workshops. You need solid design expertise plus the ability to give honest but gentle feedback. Portfolio reviews take about an hour and run $75 to $250. Coach one-on-one for $100 to $300-plus hourly or hold half-day workshops for $500 to $2,500 per student. Top mentors book 20 to 40 sessions a month, generating $1,500 to $7,000-plus. Offer async video critiques where you screen-record yourself walking through someone's work, or live sessions where they ask questions. The risk here is winding up with students who argue with feedback or expect you to redesign their portfolios. But the reward is great; it feels so good seeing someone "get it" during or after a critique. It's surprisingly addictive. Bottom line There's no single right way to run a graphic design business, but those 17 ideas prove there are plenty of good ones. Whether you want recurring revenue, passive income or strategic creative roles, you'll find a path matching your skills and goals. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How Do You Start A Small Graphic Design Business? Starting a graphic design business boils down to three basic steps: 1. Choose what you want to offer. 2. Figure out who wants it. 3. Set up a simple system for getting paid. You don't need a fancy studio or expensive equipment. But you do need design skills (obviously), command of at least one design platform, a small portfolio showing your work (even spec work and personal projects count), plus basic business systems for contracts and invoicing. Use a free platform like Instagram or Behance to showcase your work, or create a simple, one-page website. Start by offering one service—maybe social media templates or logo design. Don't wait for perfection; launch as soon as you can and learn while you earn. As with all things, growth happens through doing, not planning. What Are The Different Types Of Graphic Design? There are seven main types of graphic design: 1. Brand design (logos, business cards). 2. Marketing and social content. 3. UI/UX and app interfaces. 4. Publication and editorial design. 5. Environmental design and signage. 6. Packaging and label design. 7. Motion graphics. Brand design and UI/UX typically command the highest rates, while social media design gives you the most volume opportunities. Template-based work (social media, presentations) provides the best balance of low overhead and income growth. You need more technical skills for motion graphics, but you'll also earn premium rates. The smartest approach? Start with what you're already good at, then expand into higher-paying niches as your skills develop. What Businesses and Industries Need Graphic Designers? Graphic designers solve visual communication problems by turning messy or complex information into clear, compelling, memorable creations. Whether designing logos that capture brand personalities or creating social media posts that stop the scroll, you help businesses connect with customers through visuals. Almost every industry needs visual communication, but some are hotter than others. Ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands constantly need design work. Tech startups need UI design and pitch decks. Event organizers and nonprofits need signage and promotional materials. Health and wellness businesses want approachable, trustworthy designs. Personal brands and creators need everything from logos to course materials. The beauty of graphic design is that every business needs to communicate visually. Your job is just to pick the problems you want to solve.
Geeky Gadgets
7 days ago
- Geeky Gadgets
How to Create Stunning App Icons with AI
What if you could create professional, eye-catching app icons in minutes without needing a degree in graphic design? In the fast-paced world of app development, where first impressions can make or break user engagement, the design of your app icon is critical. It's the face of your app, the first thing users notice, and often the deciding factor in whether they click or scroll past. Thanks to the rise of AI-powered design tools, crafting stunning, platform-ready icons has never been more accessible. Whether you're a seasoned developer or a design novice, these tools can help you bridge the gap between creativity and technical precision, saving you time while elevating your app's visual identity. In this practical primer from Code with Beto, you'll discover how to harness the power of AI tools like Snap AI and design platforms like Figma to create visually striking app icons that meet the exacting standards of both Android and iOS. From generating polished designs in seconds to customizing every detail to match your branding, this guide will walk you through each step of the process. Along the way, you'll learn how to optimize your icons for platform-specific requirements, making sure they look flawless across devices and operating systems. By the end, you'll not only have the tools to create standout icons but also the confidence to integrate them seamlessly into your app's design workflow. Because when it comes to making a lasting impression, every pixel counts. Create Stunning App Icons Generate App Icons with Snap AI Snap AI is a powerful command-line interface (CLI) tool that uses OpenAI's image models to generate high-quality app icons. By simply providing your OpenAI API key, Snap AI can produce multiple icon variations with transparent backgrounds, offering flexibility for diverse design needs. This tool eliminates the need to start from scratch, allowing you to focus on refining the generated designs. Snap AI is particularly useful for creating platform-specific icons. For instance, it can generate icons tailored to Android's adaptive formats or iOS-specific dimensions. This ensures that your designs are not only visually appealing but also technically compatible with platform requirements. Whether you prefer minimalist designs or intricate styles, Snap AI provides a reliable foundation for your app icon creation process. Refine and Customize Designs with Figma After generating initial designs with Snap AI, Figma becomes an essential tool for refining and customizing your icons. Figma's intuitive interface and robust features allow you to adjust your designs to meet platform-specific requirements, such as Android adaptive icons or iOS's latest dot icon format introduced in iOS 26. Using Figma, you can fine-tune elements like colors, gradients, and scaling to ensure your icons align with your app's branding and technical specifications. Additionally, Figma's export tools simplify the process of generating assets in the correct resolutions for various devices, making sure consistency across different screens. This step is crucial for creating polished, professional icons that stand out in app stores and on user devices. Making Awesome App Icons with AI Watch this video on YouTube. Master AI design with the help of our in-depth articles and helpful guides. Optimize for Platform-Specific Requirements Making sure your app icons are optimized for platform-specific requirements is vital for maintaining a consistent and professional appearance across devices. Each platform has unique design guidelines that must be addressed to achieve this goal: Android: Adaptive icons require transparent backgrounds and proper scaling to accommodate various screen sizes. These icons must also support multiple shapes, such as circles, squares, and rounded rectangles, depending on the device's settings. Adaptive icons require transparent backgrounds and proper scaling to accommodate various screen sizes. These icons must also support multiple shapes, such as circles, squares, and rounded rectangles, depending on the device's settings. iOS: Compatibility with both older versions (e.g., iOS 18) and newer formats like the iOS 26 dot icon is essential. Apple's Icon Composer, included in Xcode 26, is a dedicated tool for creating iOS 26-compatible icons. It enables you to customize backgrounds, effects, and gradients while supporting both light and dark modes. By addressing these platform-specific requirements, you can ensure your app icons retain their visual integrity and functionality across all devices and operating systems. Design and Integrate Customizable Splash Screens Splash screens are a crucial component of your app's design strategy, as they provide the first visual interaction users have with your app. Using the Expo splash screen plugin, you can create highly customizable splash screens for both Android and iOS platforms. This tool allows you to adjust background colors and other design elements for light and dark modes, making sure a seamless user experience regardless of device settings. Integrating the Expo plugin into your development workflow ensures visual consistency between your app icons and splash screens. This consistency reinforces your app's branding and enhances the overall user experience, leaving a lasting impression on users from the moment they open your app. Test Designs on Real Devices and Simulators Before releasing your app, it is essential to test your icons and splash screens on real devices and simulators. This step ensures that your designs render correctly across various screen sizes, resolutions, and operating systems. Testing allows you to identify and address any inconsistencies early in the development process, saving time and preventing potential issues after launch. Tools like Expo simplify this testing process by allowing you to prebuild your projects for Android and iOS. Testing on both physical devices and simulators provides a comprehensive understanding of how your designs will appear to users, making sure a flawless visual experience. Streamline Your Workflow with AI and Design Tools Combining AI tools like Snap AI with design platforms such as Figma and development utilities like Apple Icon Composer can significantly streamline your app design workflow. This approach not only saves time but also ensures your designs are optimized for compatibility across platforms and operating system versions. Whether you are creating Android adaptive icons, iOS 26 dot icons, or customizable splash screens, these tools provide the flexibility and precision needed to meet modern app design standards. By following this guide, you can efficiently create stunning app icons and splash screens that enhance your app's visual appeal and deliver a seamless user experience. Media Credit: Code with Beto Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Fast Company
26-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Canva skills are what people hiring graphic designers increasingly want to see
BY and Andrew Thompson For our 2025 Where the Design Jobs Are report, Fast Company looked at which design tools were being mentioned in job listings across various disciplines, and how that has changed over time. With graphic design, there were a couple of particularly interesting findings. Asks for Blender expertise grew 82% year over year (read about that trend here), while requests for proficiency with Canva went up 72%. When we put Canva on our cover in 2022, some people in the design world viewed it as borderline heresy. The easy-to-use app had become extremely popular because it promised that anyone could be a designer—a notion that naturally upset some trained designers. But Canva's templated approach to designing everything from social media posts to T-shirts took off with the masses, and it spilled over to professionals. The working thesis is that Canva, having won over marketing design department has started reporting to marketing in many companies.) Subscribe to the Design latest innovations in design brought to you every weekday SIGN UP Privacy Policy | Fast Company Newsletters advertisement The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is tonight, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mark Wilson is the Global Design Editor at Fast Company, who covers the entirety of design's impact on culture and business.. An authority in product design, UX, AI, experience design, retail, food, and branding, he has reported landmark features on companies ranging from Nike to Google to MSCHF to Canva to Samsung to Snap to IDEO to Target, while profiling design luminaries including Tyler the Creator, Jony Ive, and Salehe Bembury More
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unilever debuts AI-driven design unit to wean brands off TV-first model
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Unilever wants to accelerate the speed of production for its home care business through a new in-house graphic design center that leans into generative artificial intelligence (AI), per news shared with Marketing Dive. The CPG giant developed the unit, called Sketch Pro, in partnership with IPG Studios, with the goal of delivering content three times faster for its brands. Sketch Pro leverages multiple AI platforms, including Adobe Firefly and Google Veo 3, and boasts the ability to turn a concept into material ready for consumer testing within two hours. Sketch Pro, which is already available in several markets, is positioned as helping Unilever navigate the transition from a marketing production model focused on linear TV to one centered on social-first storytelling. Unilever broadly is increasing its spending on social media and influencers to keep its brands tapped into culture. Sketch Pro offers another indication that legacy CPGs are undergoing a shift in their marketing strategy as social media becomes a more important channel and AI enables the level of speed needed to keep pace with fast-scrolling content feeds. Sketch Pro was designed to support home care brands like Persil/Omo, Comfort, Cif and Domestos that have long relied on TV for mass reach but are contending with younger generations of consumers who don't frequently tune in to broadcast or cable. TV production also tends to require a long lead time while brands today are expected to have lightning-quick reactions to moments and micro-trends bubbling up in culture, such as a gaffe from a public official that can be flipped into a marketing win. While Sketch Pro is billed as an internal 'centre of excellence,' Unilever developed the concept with IPG Studios, Interpublic Group's creative production agency. Sketch Pro emphasizes that it is not wed to a single AI platform, but instead promotes a flexible approach, with the goal of pushing creative boundaries. Among the group's tools is Google's Veo 3 AI video generator, which has recently garnered media attention for its ability to produce shockingly realistic content. 'Our partnership with IPG supercharges our ability to ideate, iterate and deliver high-quality design assets with speed and cultural relevance, reflecting how consumers now engage with the home care category,' said Mario Dughi, global marketing director at Unilever, in a press statement. Sketch Pro is currently live in London, São Paulo, Mumbai and Jakarta, while Unilever plans to expand the offering to 21 markets by next year. Around Ramadan, the Jakarta Sketch Pro Team was recently able to capitalize on holiday-related social trends to increase the visibility of brands including Rinso and Sunlight on TikTok by 22.5%, the announcement said. Unilever has made generative AI a focus as it tries to improve efficiency while cutting down on costs. Chief Growth and Marketing Officer Esi Eggleston Bracey in March detailed how the company is using AI solutions to create 'digital twins' of products for brands like Dove that can be easily adapted across channels and formats. At the same time, Unilever is adjusting where it invests media dollars, with plans to allocate half of its marketing spend to social while significantly broadening its work with influencers. Recommended Reading How Unilever's AI marketing bets are increasing production efficiency Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
