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AI for Creative Professionals: Practical Tools for Designers, Writers & Marketers

AI for Creative Professionals: Practical Tools for Designers, Writers & Marketers

Written by: Tiana Ned
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About this listen

AI for Creative Professionals shows you how to use AI tools in your creative work. Host Tiana shares what she’s learned from using these tools in her own freelance projects.

Perfect for:
- Graphic designers exploring AI design tools
- Copywriters and content creators learning ChatGPT and Claude
- Social media managers automating content creation
- Freelance creatives adapting to AI workflows
- Marketing professionals integrating AI strategy

Each week, you'll get:
- Tested AI tool recommendations (the good, bad, and overhyped)
- Step-by-step prompt engineering tutorials
- Real creative career guidance for the AI era
- Honest discussions about AI overuse and boundaries

New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe now to stay ahead without the AI anxiety.

Topics: AI tools, creative professionals, ChatGPT, Midjourney, prompt engineering, AI design, content creation, creative careers

AI For Creative Professionals Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Careers Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales Personal Success
Episodes
  • Create Stunning AI Visuals - No Design Degree Required

    Create Stunning AI Visuals - No Design Degree Required
    Jul 2 2025

    Hey Creative Friends!

    Just got back from Greece (yes, I was working on holiday because my brain literally cannot turn off when I'm following AI newsletters and finding new tools to test). Today we're discussing AI image generation - specifically the tools I actually use for real work, not the ones I wish I had time to master.

    I'll be honest - I'm not an AI art expert. I use these tools for specific work needs (mainly Instagram carousels) and that's exactly what I recommend to everyone else. Don't try to master everything - pick what serves your actual work and get good at that.

    What You'll Learn (The Actually Useful Stuff)
    • ChatGPT image creator deep dive - Why this has become my go-to tool (spoiler: convenience + quality)
    • Prompting that actually works - 4-element framework that gets you usable results, not weird blobs
    • Copyright considerations - You can't use "in the style of [living artist]" anymore - here's what to do instead
    • Keep it realistic and manageable - Focus on solving actual work problems, not becoming an AI art master
    • Tools by creative role - Because you don't need to try everything, just what works for your needs
    My Actual Usage

    80% of my AI image use: Instagram carousel graphics for clients 20% split between: Blog headers, concept visuals, client presentations

    I don't use it for: Complex illustrations, professional photography, detailed technical work

    Try These This Week
    • Pick ONE tool - Don't try to master everything. Choose based on your actual work needs
    • Test the 4-element framework - Create 3-5 images using subject + style + setting + technical details
    • Save what works - Start building your personal prompt library for future use
    • Focus on real needs - Pick one type of visual content you create regularly and experiment with AI for that
    • Iterate, don't perfect - First attempts won't be amazing, and that's normal
    Remember This

    You don't need to become an AI art expert. You need tools that solve real problems in your work. Start with what you actually need, not with trying to master every new tool that launches.

    These are means to an end - creating functional visual content - not ends in themselves.

    Tools Mentioned
    • ChatGPT Image Creator
    • DALL-E, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly
    • Recraft, Leonardo.ai, Runway ML
    • Figma AI tools, Canva AI features
    Next Episode Preview

    How creative careers are evolving in the AI era - who's thriving, who's struggling, and what skills are becoming more valuable.

    P.S. - I spent way too much time testing new AI tools instead of enjoying Greek sunsets. Learn from my mistakes and focus on what you actually need for work!

    Let's Connect!
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    30 mins
  • Why Does AI Writing Sound... Like That Intern Nobody Wants to Mentor?

    Why Does AI Writing Sound... Like That Intern Nobody Wants to Mentor?
    Jun 25 2025
    Hey Creative Pros! So I was hunting for new podcasts the other day (as one does when you have a podcast addiction), and I found this personal development show with like 200 episodes and tons of reviews. But then I read the description and... oof. It was SO obviously AI-written. Like painfully obvious. "Unlock your true potential," "elevate your business game," "unleash your superpowers" - you know, all those phrases that scream "I wrote this in 2023 and never looked back!" The weird thing? I actually listened to the host and they're super personable and authentic! But their description made them sound like a robot. It got me thinking - how do we make sure our own content doesn't end up in that same hollow, AI-generated trap? What You'll Learn Why AI writing isn't "wrong" - just overused - This stuff comes from legitimate professional writing! But when everyone suddenly sounds the same... yikesSpot the AI lingo - Thanks to Matthew Hitcham's research (shoutout to his ChatGPT Black Magic course that Facebook-stalked me into buying)Write like you actually talk - Not dumbed down, just... human? There's a differenceAdd your messy human experiences - The cat-knocking-over-water moments that make content realKnow when to sound professional vs. conversational - Because your yoga studio newsletter doesn't need to sound like a medical journalThe Baader-Meinhof effect in action - Once you see these patterns, you'll notice them EVERYWHERE (sorry in advance)Embrace strategic imperfection - Sometimes the tangents and "oops" moments are what make it memorable Episode Timestamps 00:00:00 - Podcast description that inspired this episode 00:04:05 - Why AI writing isn't inherently bad (it's just everywhere) 00:06:49 - What is "AI speak" and why it's a problem 00:11:48 - Matthew's framework for spotting AI patterns 00:17:22 - The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon 00:18:14 - Technique 1: Write conversationally 00:20:52 - Technique 2: Add personal experiences (the messy ones!) 00:23:54 - Technique 3: Embrace imperfection 00:27:52 - When to use AI vs. your human brain 00:30:28 - 5-step editing process for humanizing AI content Tools & Resources I Actually Use For Content Creation: ChatGPT (for outlines when my brain is stuck)Claude (my go-to for everything writing-related)Voice memos (to capture how I actually talk) The Course That Stalked Me: Matthew Hitcham's ChatGPT Black Magic ($19 when I got it, totally worth it)Tons of prompt templates in there (I've only used 3 so far, oops) The Techniques That Work: Read everything aloud Add personal disastersEmbrace the tangentsMix formal and casual based on context Try These This Week Audit your recent content - Count how many AI patterns you findRead everything aloud - This catches unnatural phrasing better than anything elseAdd one messy human moment - Share a specific example, even if it's embarrassing (especially if it's embarrassing)Test the hybrid approach - Use AI for structure, then rewrite it like you're explaining to a friendTest the decision framework - Consciously decide: high stakes or low? Emotional or technical? Match your approach accordingly Important Stuff Look, if you're a trained writer who naturally writes formally, don't feel like you need to sound like a TikTok influencer just to avoid the AI trap. The goal is authenticity, not forced casualness. Context matters! These tips are especially helpful for us creatives who aren't writers first - designers, photographers, video editors - who need to create content but don't have formal writing training. AI tools can be lifesavers for us, just remember to make the output sound like YOU. Also, there's no "right" way to write. It's like cooking - there are professional chefs and then there's the rest of us who just need to feed people. And cats. Same with writing! Resources Worth Checking Out Matthew Hitcham's ChatGPT Black Magic course (the Facebook ads work, apparently)Previous episodes on prompting techniques (if you missed them) Next Episode Sneak Peek We're rambling about AI image generation tools - and how to use them without losing your creative soul in the process. P.S. - Once you start noticing these AI patterns, you literally can't unsee them. You're welcome/I'm sorry! Let's Connect! Podcast WebsiteInstagramTwitterLinkedInSubscribe to my newsletter
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    37 mins
  • Are You Still Prompting Like It's 2023? Advanced AI Communication for Creatives - Part 2

    Are You Still Prompting Like It's 2023? Advanced AI Communication for Creatives - Part 2
    Jun 18 2025
    Hey Creative Friends! In this episode, I'm sharing some advanced AI prompting tricks that'll help you break free from those bland, generic AI responses we're all tired of seeing. Remember those basic prompting principles from last week? Well, now we're taking the training wheels off! I'll show you how to get AI to surprise you with genuinely creative ideas instead of the same old predictable stuff everyone else is getting. 🎁 Freebie link to my advanced prompt templates (copy/paste ready - no email signup required) - HERE What You'll Learn (The Good Stuff) It's like working with a senior creative, not an intern - Stop micromanaging AI and start setting up creative sandboxes where it can surprise you with brilliance Make AI show its work - With "chain-of-thought" prompting, AI has to explain its thinking step-by-stepGet multiple options instead of just one - Why settle for a single idea when you can explore several directions at once? Add creative constraints - Just like how haikus or sonnets force poets to get creative, limiting what AI can use pushes it to find fresh solutions (this one's great for breaking out of creative ruts!)Reverse-engineer better prompts - Describe what you're dreaming of and ask AI to create the prompt that would make it happen (I stumbled on this technique a year ago and it's been a lifesaver)Cast AI in detailed character roles - Instead of just saying "be a copywriter," create a vivid persona with specific experience and quirks for more nuanced feedbackMix and match techniques - Combine these approaches for exponentially better results (though your creative judgment is what makes it all work) Tools I Mentioned: The AI Tools: ChatGPT with that "deep research" button (great for when you need AI to really think things through)Claude (my go-to for reverse prompting... and everything else writing related, for that matter)Bing Image Creator (what I was using for image generation before I found a better workflow) The Advanced Techniques: Chain-of-Thought Method - Like asking "how would you solve this?" instead of "what's the answer?"Comparative Prompting - Gets AI to explore multiple creative directions at onceConstraint Prompting - For when you need to break out of predictable, boring patternsReverse Prompting - Tell AI to create the prompt for youImmersive Role Playing - Makes AI feedback actually useful and specificExpert Dialogue Approach - Creates a virtual creative roundtable discussion Where to Find What 00:00:33 - Refresher on what we covered last week 00:02:03 - Why advanced prompting is like collaborating with a creative director 00:03:44 - Chain-of-thought prompting: Getting AI to show its creative process 00:05:37 - Comparative prompting: How to get multiple creative directions 00:07:59 - Constraints-based prompting to force more creativity (just like jazz musicians) 00:09:41 - Reverse prompting: Asking AI to write prompts for you 00:11:12 - Immersive role-playing prompting 00:13:49 - Case study: Applying advanced techniques 00:17:46 - Fitting these techniques into your actual day-to-day creative work 00:19:49 - Quick recap and what to try this week Try These This Week Break down your thinking - Next time you need an AI concept, ask it to walk through 4-5 steps before giving the final idea. Instead of "Give me a logo concept," try "Before creating a logo concept, analyze what makes good logos work, consider symbolic approaches, explore color psychology, etc."Get options, not answers - For your next creative challenge, identify 2-3 completely different directions and ask AI to explore each one. The magic is in seeing multiple possibilities side-by-side!Add weird constraints - This is seriously fun: tell AI it CAN'T use certain words or phrases in your next content task. I tried this with a client's Instagram captions when we were stuck in a rut, and the results were so much fresher.Start your own prompt collection - I'm sharing all mine in the show notes, but start saving the prompts that work well for YOU. Trust me, future-you will be grateful when you're on deadline.Run the A/B test - Try both a basic prompt and an advanced one for the same project and see the difference. 🎁 Grab all my advanced prompt templates (copy/paste ready!) HERE Let's Connect! Podcast WebsiteInstagramTwitterLinkedInSubscribe to my newsletter
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    22 mins
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