AI & Me - How I work without, and with, Artificial Intelligence.

So much of what I’ve been reading lately seems to mention AI (Artificial Intelligence).  Whether it’s another business, another designer, or a commentator sharing their views, it’s absolutely bloody everywhere and is either going to save us all or bring death to all originality.  Unsurprisingly, I’ve got quite a lot of thoughts about it and without wanting to add to the noise I did think it important, for me as a creative and for my small business, to be as clear as I can be about how it is used and the small role it plays in my business. 

Incase this is the first post you’re reading from me, I’m Rachel and I’m the one-woman-band behind Holchester Designs.  And this post, if I’m honest, will be an odd introduction to my world of pretty patterns and sustainable stationery if you haven’t visited before.  

But at the same time I’m over the moon because if you’re reading this, then AI and its role in a small creative business is something that interests you.  And you're not alone in that, I am too.   

Whilst I am an artist and surface pattern designer that uses my hand-drawn artwork on all my products, I am also a realist who works largely solo.  I do have a background in business support that I can draw on but I’m far from a business expert so I do often need a hand to make sense of things, especially in the constantly changing world around me.  I do see massive risks with the growth in the use of AI, especially for the creative industries, and I do also have concerns about the environmental impact, but I also see how ingrained AI is quickly becoming and how helpful it can be in some situations. So yes, my thoughts are mixed, and at times contradictory too. 

The pressure to take a clear stance is massive, but then I read this fabulous AI Policy from the brilliant Aime at Studio Cotton.  Not only did this suggest a great structure for putting my own thoughts down, it also helped me realise it’s a fluid and changing situation so I don’t need to have all the answers right now - I’m allowed to state where I’m at currently, and reserve the right adjust it in future as things around me change too.

So that is exactly what this post is, as of 25th March 2026.

The Short Version: 

AI does not and will not feature in my artistic or pattern creation processes in any way. Nor does it write my communications (emails, social media captions or responses) or interact with anyone on my behalf. But there are tools I use in my business that use AI as part of their own processes and while I try to keep their use to a minimum in some instances this is unavoidable. 

Times I don’t, and won’t, use AI:

My creative process does not include AI - everything is drawn by me, digitally refined by me (not by any automatic digital processes) and arranged on products for printing by me. My individual creative process is what makes my designs and products what they are, and is the bit I really enjoy, so I’m not giving that up.  (If you're interested I've written about My Creative Process too). 

My inbox is managed by me (often with room for improvement) and all my marketing is all done by me (always with room for improvement). And I currently don’t imagine that ever changing, with the exception of an actual human being helping me out. 

It is also of key importance to me that when you see a product image on the website, you know that that is exactly what you’re getting.  So all product imagery, of existing products, is photographs of the actual product in that situation. Whilst this may have been subject to some basic photo editing (e.g. light level adjustment, image cropping to a different shape) the product itself is unchanged. 

So, in summary, AI does not:

• Generate drawings or designs for me
• Write on my behalf, whether it’s an email, blog post, social media caption or product listing. 
• ‘Take’ photographs of my products 
• Work with customer data, for compilation or analysis, in any way.

Times I definitely use AI:

Most of these are situations where they’re basic tools we use, and are used to, but fundamentally do use sophisticated AI models behind them to work.  

• Spell Check on emails and written work
• Email account spam filters (not that they always work!)
• Deleting the background to a product image so only the product remains. 
• AI-powered search, such as Google’s AI mode that summarises results, or Claude where I can be very specific in my search requirements. (NB This doesn’t happen often as I do find the results of variable quality, but it’s sometimes a helpful starting point).
  

Times I occasionally use AI: 

Sometimes I use tools, available to me through other software I already use, to make certain jobs quicker.  These aren't everyday occurrences but are regular enough that I'd notice if I didn't use them.  

• To analyse business data (this is only ever business data, never ever ever customer data or information) 
• Expand blank areas of imagery, e.g. continuing the wood text on a desk when an image is the wrong shape, using generative functions within my software.
• Doing product mock-ups of either items which have not yet been produced e.g. new notebook before printing or a wallpaper on a wall, or placing items that I do have ‘proper’ photos on in situations where I could not take a photo e.g. notepad on a surf board in the pacific ocean (I don’t know why I would, but if I wanted to that’s how I’d do it).
• Working through marketing ideas or pitching angles - basically a sounding board to bounce ideas off  in the way you might discuss these things with a colleague in an office. This is rare as to be honest results can be mixed. 
  
  

And there are of course instances where AI is being used and I’m not aware of it, or where a programme I use has integrated AI tools that I can’t turn off e.g. my Email provider has an integrated tool that automatically suggests alternative email subject lines and my banking has tools for analysing spending and doing scam checks. And there will be more I’m sure. 

It’s hard to keep posts like this brief, especially when once you start you notice things around you more and more. And there are things I do now without AI, because it can’t do them like I can, where in future it will probably be able to.  That’s just the nature of the beast.  

The AI tightrope is the finest of fine lines to navigate, especially as a small business.  Whilst we can be resilient and pivot quickly, challenges of scale and budget compared to the ‘big guys’ are a permanent fixture too.  All we can do is try our best and roll with the punches, and this is my way of doing it whilst being open and honest with you all.  I may very well have got this wrong but I’m giving it a try, and I sincerely hope that counts for something.