JONESBORO, Ark. – Despite the growing presence of artificial intelligence in graphic design, faculty at Arkansas State University’s Department of Art and Design assert that AI tools are no substitute for the creativity and originality of human designers.
Katherine Baker, department chair, said while AI-generated flyers have proliferated on social media and are easy to produce, employers seek out human designers for their ability to think critically and create meaningful, eye-catching visuals.
“You can get [an AI-produced] product. But can you get product that catches the eye?” Baker said.
She explained that AI systems often generate similar designs because they rely on standardized algorithms, lacking the unique vision that human designers bring to projects. She added that distinctiveness in design depends on creative thinking—an area where human expertise excels.
Another key advantage, Baker said, lies in education. At Arkansas State, students are not only taught how to use design tools but also how to harness those tools effectively to produce distinctive pieces. She compared the process to that of a skilled mechanic, explaining, “A mechanic needs to know the tools but also needs to know the way that the engine functions.”
Nikki Arnell, a professor of graphic design at the university, stressed the importance of self-discovery in developing a designer’s craft. Experimentation in courses, even when challenging, helps students refine their identities and creative thinking, she said.
“When [coursework is] driving them crazy, when it’s 3 a.m. and they’re painting and they’re like, ‘I don’t even want to be a painter,’ you’re going to be a better graphic designer because you learned about experimentation and pushing yourself and that abstract thought,” Arnell explained.
Arnell highlighted the human ability to explore “what-ifs” and make unique connections as another edge over AI. Designers use their personal identity to guide their work and branding—something artificial intelligence cannot replicate.
“Who are you? What do you want to be?” she said. “If you can do that for yourself, you can do it for anybody.”
While advances in AI continue to evolve, Arkansas State’s art and design leaders remain confident that foundational human creativity will maintain its critical role in the field.