How to Create an AI Logo, Prompt Hacks and Print Ready for Midjourney

Rob Shocks
22 Feb 202309:55

TLDRThis video explores the use of generative AI in logo design, focusing on the mid-journey model for its illustrative style. It offers tips for simplifying AI-generated outputs to create logos suitable for various media, using keywords and refining prompts. The host demonstrates the process of vectorizing AI outputs in Adobe Illustrator for print-ready logos and discusses the current limitations of AI in fully automating the branding process.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 AI can assist in logo design, especially for brands that require a stylized or illustrative look, such as sports teams or gaming.
  • 🎨 Midjourney stands out for its stylistic and illustrative style among AI models, making it suitable for logo design with rich details.
  • 📝 To start with Midjourney, one must sign up for Discord and accept the terms and services to access the AI's capabilities.
  • 🔍 Users can experiment with prompts in Midjourney to generate logo concepts, refining them for simplicity and reproducibility.
  • 🖼️ AI-generated outputs are often detail-rich, requiring simplification for effective logo design which should be simple and versatile.
  • 📝 Prompts can be refined by specifying requirements like 'on white background', '2D', 'simple vector', and 'no realistic details or shadows'.
  • 🔑 Understanding different types of logos (word mark, letter mark, etc.) helps in using appropriate keywords for more targeted AI prompts.
  • 🎭 Midjourney does not handle text well, so final logos need text editing in graphic software like Illustrator or Canva.
  • 🌟 Creative experimentation with style prompts, such as 'Japanese style' or 'pop art', can yield unique logo designs.
  • 👨‍🎨 Incorporating famous artists' styles as prompts can inspire distinctive logo concepts, though ethical considerations apply.
  • 🔄 The process of turning AI-generated images into vector graphics for print involves using tools in Illustrator to trace and simplify the design.

Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to demonstrate how generative AI can be used to create logos and provide tips and tricks for accelerating the logo design process using the AI model mid-journey.

  • Why is mid-journey considered the best AI model for logo design according to the video?

    -Mid-journey is considered the best for logo design because it has the most stylistic and illustrative style, producing concepts that are very illustrative and detail-rich, making it well-suited for sports teams, gaming, and other stylized areas.

  • What is the first step to start using mid-journey for logo creation?

    -The first step is to sign up for Discord and accept the terms and services upon logging into mid-journey.

  • How does the video suggest refining the AI-generated logo to make it simpler and more reproducible?

    -The video suggests using specific keywords in the prompt, such as 'on white background', '2D', 'simple', 'vector', 'no tag', 'no realistic details', or 'no shading', to simplify the output and make it more suitable for a logo.

  • What are some of the common issues with AI-generated logos that the video addresses?

    -The common issues addressed include the complexity of the designs, the presence of multiple colors, backgrounds, and gradients, and the difficulty in reproducing them across various mediums due to their detail-rich nature.

  • What is the role of keywords in the AI logo creation process as shown in the video?

    -Keywords play a crucial role in guiding the AI to generate logos that are closer to the desired style and simplicity. They help in specifying the type of logo, colors, and design elements to include or avoid.

  • How can AI-generated logos be further refined or edited after creation?

    -AI-generated logos can be refined or edited by using vector editing software like Adobe Illustrator, Canva, or Inkscape to simplify the design, adjust colors, and replace or modify text for better legibility.

  • What are some of the styles or themes that the video suggests experimenting with for logo design?

    -The video suggests experimenting with styles such as pop art, psychedelic, Japanese style, and even mimicking the style of famous artists or logo designers.

  • What is the importance of keeping the logo design simple according to the video?

    -Keeping the logo design simple is important because a good logo needs to be recognizable at various distances and sizes, and reproducible on packaging, print, and web, which generally means limiting the design to one to three colors.

  • How does the video suggest using the AI-generated logo in different contexts like app icons?

    -The video suggests using specific prompts tailored for the context, such as 'iOS app icon simple minimal gradient style vector', and adjusting the design to be more simple and minimal to fit the context.

  • What is the final step in the logo creation process as demonstrated in the video?

    -The final step is to import the AI-generated image into a vector editing software, use image tracing to convert it into a clean vector graphic, and then add or modify text to complete the logo design.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Leveraging Generative AI in Logo Design

The script explores the integration of generative AI into the branding workflow, specifically for logo creation. It evaluates the utility of AI for entrepreneurs, product developers, and creatives. The author compares three AI models—Dali 2, stable diffusion, and mid-journey—identifying mid-journey as the most suitable for logo design due to its illustrative style. The process begins with signing up for Discord and interacting with the mid-journey bot, using specific prompts to generate logo concepts. The script discusses the importance of simplicity in logos for brand recognition and reproducibility across various media. It suggests refining AI outputs by using keywords like '2D', 'simple vector', and 'no realistic details' to achieve a minimalist design. The author also recommends using the outputs as a starting point, which can be further simplified and adjusted in design software like Illustrator or Canva.

05:02

🛠 Refining AI-Generated Logos for Practical Use

This paragraph delves into the practical application of AI-generated logos, emphasizing the need for refinement to make them suitable for real-world use. It discusses the process of taking an AI-generated image and using Adobe Illustrator to trace and vectorize it, focusing on simplifying the design to three colors for better print quality and scalability. The script provides examples of how to prompt the AI for different logo styles, such as mascots, emblems, and abstract designs, using specific keywords to guide the AI's output. It also touches on the use of Japanese style and famous artist styles as prompts for unique logo designs. The author concludes by suggesting that while AI can inspire and assist in the creative process, it cannot fully automate the entire branding process, and recommends services like Brandmark and Looker for those with basic design skills on a budget. The script ends with a call for comments on the use of AI in logo design and the potential for full automation in the future.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Logo

AI Logo refers to the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of logos. In the context of the video, it involves leveraging generative AI to assist in the design process, aiming to accelerate logo creation and provide a stylistic and illustrative outcome suitable for branding. The script mentions that AI is particularly helpful in generating detailed and rich concepts for logos, especially for sports teams or gaming brands.

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is one of the three popular AI models mentioned in the script, alongside Dali 2 and stable diffusion. It is highlighted for having a distinctive stylistic and illustrative style, making it ideal for logo design. The script discusses how midjourney can be used to create logos that are illustrative and rich in detail, although not necessarily suited for every brand.

💡Discord

Discord is a communication platform used as the interface for interacting with the midjourney AI model. The script instructs viewers on how to sign up and use Discord to input prompts and receive AI-generated outputs for logo design. It serves as a community space where users can share and discuss their AI-generated designs.

💡Upscale

In the context of the video, 'upscale' refers to the process of enhancing the resolution or quality of an AI-generated image. The script describes choosing to upscale a particular image if the user finds it appealing, which can then be further refined or used as a basis for additional variations.

💡2D Simple Vector

A '2D Simple Vector' is a type of graphic design that is two-dimensional and uses vector graphics for scalability and simplicity. The script emphasizes the importance of simplifying AI outputs to achieve a clean and minimalist design that is suitable for logos, which need to be easily reproducible across various mediums.

💡Reproducible

Reproducible, in the context of the video, refers to the ability of a logo to be consistently reproduced across different platforms and mediums, such as print, packaging, and web. The script discusses the need for logos to be kept simple, with minimal colors and details, to ensure they remain recognizable and high-quality when scaled or printed.

💡Keywords

Keywords in the video are specific terms used to guide the AI in generating particular styles or types of logos. The script provides examples of keywords like 'on white background,' '2D,' 'simple,' and 'vector' to help refine the AI's output to achieve a desired logo design.

💡Illustrator

Illustrator, as mentioned in the script, is a vector graphics editing software used for creating and editing logos. It is used to take the AI-generated image and trace it into a vector format, which is essential for print-ready logos. The script describes using Illustrator to refine and finalize the logo design.

💡IOS App Icon

An IOS App Icon is a specific type of logo designed for mobile applications on the Apple iOS platform. The script discusses using AI to generate simple and minimal app icons, which are then refined to meet the style and design requirements for app icons.

💡Japanese Style

Japanese Style refers to a design aesthetic inspired by traditional Japanese art and culture. The script mentions using this style as an example of how AI can generate logos with specific cultural or artistic influences, resulting in a simple and clean design suitable for branding.

💡Vectorize

To 'vectorize' an image means to convert it into a vector format, which allows for infinite scalability without loss of quality. The script explains the process of vectorizing an AI-generated image in Illustrator to create a clean and professional logo that is ready for print and other uses.

Highlights

AI can assist in logo creation, offering advantages to entrepreneurs, product developers, and creatives.

Midjourney is identified as the most stylistically suitable AI model for logo design due to its illustrative and detailed outputs.

To begin using Midjourney, one must sign up on Discord and accept terms and services.

New users of Midjourney are advised to join a 'Newbie' room on Discord to start experimenting with prompts.

Upscaling in Midjourney allows for more detailed images, which can be useful for certain logo designs.

Midjourney's trial offers a limited number of images, with a middle-tier subscription recommended for flexibility.

A good logo should be simple, recognizable at various distances and sizes, and reproducible across different media.

Prompts can be refined to simplify AI-generated outputs, making them more suitable for logo design.

Keywords such as 'white background', '2D', 'simple', and 'vector' can help in creating cleaner logo designs.

Understanding different logo types can guide the use of appropriate keywords in AI prompts.

Examples of creating a soccer team logo using AI, emphasizing simplicity and minimalism for reproducibility.

Midjourney does not handle text well, requiring manual adjustment in design software like Illustrator.

The process of vectorizing AI-generated images for print and scalable use involves image tracing in design software.

Experimenting with different styles, such as Japanese or pop art, can yield unique logo design ideas.

Using famous artists or logo designers as prompts can inspire AI to generate logos in their style.

The video demonstrates creating a logo for a habit-sharing app called Promise, using abstract and simple design elements.

AI-generated logos require post-processing in design software to refine details and add legible text.

While AI can aid in the creative process, it cannot fully automate the entire logo design and branding process.

For those with basic design skills on a budget, AI-assisted platforms like Brandmark and Looker can provide quick and usable branding assets.