In a world where text-to-image technology is becoming more advanced, logo designers may soon be out of a job. Google engineers have developed a ground-breaking artificial intelligence tool that can conjure images by reading text input. A rival system, DALL·E mini, took Twitter by storm this week. I was curious about this technology, so I typed in “A photo of Boston Terriers by the pool in the style of Slim Aarons,” and I have gotta say, I was quite pleased:

As T2I technology improves, businesses will be able to create logos and other graphics without hiring human artists, designers, or illustrators. So what does this mean for the future of logo design? And what are some of the pros and cons of this new technology?

Text-to-image design opens up endless creative possibilities in the same way that the invention of oil-based paint did. AI technology can give us ideas we wouldn’t have had on our own and allow us to layer our own “spin” on a design. This could lead to some really amazing and unique text-to-image logo designs.

It also further democratizes design. In the same way, tools like Canva have allowed people with limited design skills to create professional-looking graphics, the only limit is your imagination, and beautiful designs and templates can be made by a trained professional.

However, text-to-image logo design could lead to a lot of cookie-cutter designs. With businesses able to easily create logos without hiring a professional, we may see an increase in unoriginal designs. This could lead to a homogenization of logo design and make it repetitive, even dull. We put Dall-e’s logo design skills to the test, and uhhhh….

Let’s just say it’s not quite there yet.

One of the reasons that Google hasn’t released this tool to the public yet is because they are still trying to understand some of the ways text-to-image could become hateful, dangerous, or lead to the spread of misinformation. For example, increasing the proliferation of deep fakes across the web since anyone can make one with only a few keystrokes.

There is also the threat of putting designers out of a job. In recent years, sites like Fiverr and Upwork have increased competition and lowered the cost of logo and graphic design. Designers in the U.S. who charged thousands for their work found themselves against designers willing to work for a fraction of the cost. With computer-generated logos an imminent reality, design costs will be minuscule – even free.

So what does the future hold for logo design? Only time will tell. But text-to-image technology will change the landscape of logo design – for better or worse. If you want to try T2I for yourself, check out the Dall-e Mini here and share your creations with us in the comments below!