Given the powerful LLM and generative image tools that are available at the moment, I wanted to create a new T-Shirt design for the Activ8te EDM persona. Activ8te produces cybersecurity-themed EDM tracks that are meant to get people dancing but to also inspire them to learn more about cybersecurity. The goal was to see how quickly this can be done using modern AI tools as inspiration.
Here’s the step-by-step process I used:
Prepare Context
I provided an LLM (in this case, GPT-4.o) with information about Activ8te and my bio. The AI then generated prompts for image creation:
Create Backgrounds
Using Midjourney v6, I generated several designs based on the LLM’s prompts. I liked the hooded DJ styled like a circuit board the best. If these images had not worked out on the first attempt, I would have asked for more generations or revisited the prompts.
Generate Logo Prompts
I asked the LLM for prompts to create the word “Activ8te” in different styles:
Create the Main Logo
I found that Midjourney generated images that were visually too complex and did not faithfully reproduce the work Activ8te. Instead, I used Google’s Gemini, as it excelled at faithfully reproducing text:
The techno-inspired orange “Activ8te” was the clear winner.
Compose in Image Editor
Using Photoshop, I isolated elements, applied color overlays, and added a call to action:
Call to action: “Join the beat: activ8te.bandcamp.com”
Order the Design
I used Printful to order the t-shirt, opting for 100% natural fiber:
Conclusion
This experiment shows that AI tools can dramatically speed up the design process. From concept to order, the entire process took me about 15 minutes.
While AI did most of the heavy lifting here, human judgement is still required in selecting and refining the final product.
Whether you’re an artist, marketer, or entrepreneur, this approach can help you quickly create compelling merchandise for your brand or project.
If you like the design, you can order a t-shirt for yourself