Danny Williams, a graphic designer from East Yorkshire, says he is losing work because smaller businesses are turning to artificial intelligence instead.
Williams said he understands why companies are making this choice during tough economic times.
He explained that smaller businesses often do not have the budget for graphic design or large media packages.
Williams started in the industry 15 years ago. He said graphic designers were in high demand back then.
Designer Says Work Has Slowed
Now, Williams says the amount of work coming his way has dropped.
He said AI tools have become easier to access and admitted the graphic design sector needs to adapt to survive.
Williams also said AI generated posters can look repetitive after a while.
He said many people are tired of seeing this kind of content.
"Cheaper is not always best," Williams said.
He added that a business's marketing is the face of that business.
Williams believes trends will shift back toward human designed work over time. He said people are growing tired of AI content and do not fully trust it.
Small Business Owner Defends AI Use
Claire Howlett runs The King's Head pub in Pollington, East Yorkshire.
She said she has handled all of her own advertising so far using AI tools.
Howlett said she might hire a graphic designer if her business grows larger in the future.
For now, she said the AI tools available work well for her needs.
"As far as I'm concerned, you want the best option, the cheapest option and the most convenient, which is AI at the moment," Howlett said.
Stephen Woodford is the CEO of the Advertising Association.
He said the industry is going through fast change as more companies adopt AI.
Woodford said the group's goal is to help the UK advertising industry use AI efficiently.
At the same time, he said the industry must keep creative standards high and protect public trust.
Woodford described AI as highly capable but said there are limits to what it can do.
He pointed out that advertising is a heavily regulated industry.
Any material shared with the public must be honest and truthful, he said.
Businesses using AI to create ads still have to follow those same rules, according to Woodford.
He said companies must be sure their marketing represents them honestly and complies with regulations.
The comments come as more small businesses across the UK weigh the cost of hiring designers against using AI tools for their marketing needs.
