It’s no surprise that AI has been one of the fastest-growing industries in 2023, changing the way businesses operate. OpenAI, more specifically ChatGPT, has seen huge growth with approximately 1.5 billion visits per month in 2023. You have probably all heard of ChatGPT before, however, a new tool has been mentioned recently alongside ChatGPT that you may be less aware of, DALL-E!

DALL-E 2.0 is Open-AI’s new AI system that can create realistic images and art from a description. This tool can be helpful in so many different ways for businesses looking to improve their marketing efforts at a lower cost. It could be used to help your business develop anything from a new logo to stock images that you may want to use for social posts.

In this blog we will walk through a step-by-step guide on how we used DALL-E to design a logo for a fictional company called Craft & Restore Lincoln, which specialises in renovation, to demonstrate how easy it is for you to do.

The first step is to log in to ChatGPT. You could log in to your existing profile or create an account if you haven’t used the platform before.

You’ll also need to have ChatGPT Plus, a pro subscription that allows you to get a range of additional features. These features include access to ChatGPT during peak times, faster response times, and priority access to new features and improvements. The subscription currently costs $20 per month.

Having a subscription is common with more advanced models however there are free, less interactive versions online like Canva’s free AI image generator.

Once you have signed in or created an account, go to the left side of the screen and click the DALL-E tab. This will open up the DALL-E feature. 

Now, if you have used GPT before, the prompt feature works the same as the normal chat method. But, if you haven’t, it works by adding prompts via the text box to initiate a response. The most important thing about getting an effective response or in this case design for our logo is to give it a well-detailed prompt. 

When asking the tool to create a logo specifically, you must include details like brand name, typography, brand colour, and a theme. In this case, I wanted to use the Helvetica Neue Font with a forest green colour.

The tool will then generate a couple of designs that it thinks match the specifications you gave it. You may have noticed that the wording may be off, don’t worry about this as this is just because the AI is still in its infancy so it struggles with grammar in designs.

The AI should have now given you two images. The amount of detail you used in your prompt will determine how well the logo has represented what you are looking for. You may have to ask the DALL-E to try again with a slightly different suggestion, such as “can you try again but with all the wording on the outside of the design”. 

Based on the logo ideas given for our renovation company we decided that we wanted more of an icon as the logo, rather than words. This is because we wanted a brand design that would work online and on physical brand assets. We therefore asked DALL-E to use icons to represent the brand in the logo rather than words.

After reviewing the initial designs from DALL-E, you might find yourself gravitating towards one design in particular, but it does not feel quite perfect. This is a common step in the design process, especially with AI-generated art.

Choose and Adapt

• Pick a design. Identify which of the initial designs you liked the most. For example, for the renovation company, we liked the second design’s outline layout.
• Note adjustments. Consider what changes could improve it. Do you want it more simplified? A different colour scheme? A different font?

Provide Detailed Feedback

• Refine your prompt. Return to the DALL-E tab and adjust your prompt to reflect these changes. For instance, “I liked the house outline concept in the second design. Can you create more designs with a similar theme, but perhaps add [specific changes]?”

Iteration is key. Remember, it’s a trial-and-error process so you may need to tweak your prompts a few times to get closer to your ideal logo.

Once you’ve got a design from DALL-E that you are happy with, you may want to contact an agency or freelancer to polish the design. They’re like the cleanup crew for the rough sketch that DALL-E has provided. They’ll take your design, smooth out those AI-induced rough edges, and make sure your logo is ready for use. They will also handle any file format issues, ensuring your logo can be resized without losing quality. Giving you a logo that looks just as good on a billboard as it does on your business card. They’re the ones who turn a good concept into a great brand identity.

Subject to the Content Policy and Terms, you own the images you create with DALL-E, including the right to reprint, sell, and merchandise. This gives you the freedom and security to use your AI-generated logo across various platforms and products.

If you need some help with digital marketing and implementing AI tools into your workflow, reach out to us at Lincoln Be Smarter. Our team can help you access mentorship as well as grant funding that can help your business grow.