Lewis Creative Teams Attend AI Workshop on Visual Content Creation and Innovation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is both an emerging innovation of the future and an effective tool of the here and now. Already, this technology is making a measurable difference on how work is done in almost every industry. For our creative professionals here at Lewis, it’s a new frontier.
While there’s much to be learned, we’re using AI and its relevant platforms to heighten control of creative outcomes and improve our workflows, speed, vision and possibilities. To that end, Lewis recently hosted an AI workshop. The hands-on training event, Hacking Visual Content Creation with AI, was led by AI expert Rory Flynn and included creative teams from our three offices in Nashville, Tenn., Mobile, Ala., and Birmingham, Ala., where the event was hosted.
Flynn, founder of Systematiq AI, is a leading figure in AI training for creative teams. He’s known for his work in helping companies operationalize AI tools and improve creative quality and output. Considered a leading voice in AI-powered content creation, his expertise lies in injecting AI into workflows to amplify productivity.
“Having someone like Rory who is literally building his business around AI tools like Midjourney and Runway gives our team the opportunity to see how this technology is being leveraged,” said Robert Froedge, Executive Vice President at Lewis. “Our team was able to focus on practical skills for integrating generative AI into daily workflows and expand what’s possible for our clients.”
Hands-On Learning: An Investment in Our Team
Throughout the workshop, our creative team engaged in lengthy Q&As and interactive exercises. The sessions helped bridge the gap between traditional design processes and AI-driven innovations.
“The workshop helped give me a better background on how the AI platforms actually work,” said Jason Headrick, Associate Creative Director in Lewis’ Birmingham office. “This, along with building prompt structures and thinking through the workflow process, will help generate better results.”
Headrick said he expects these AI tools to aid his work in various ways throughout the creative process. In the early stages of a project, AI can quickly provide better keyframes for storyboards or comp images for layouts that create the tone and look he’s working to convey.
Topics covered included:
AI-Powered Image Generation – Exploring tools like Midjourney, Runway and Krea to create striking visuals from well-crafted and expansive text prompts.
Enhancing Workflow Efficiency – Utilizing AI tools to accelerate ideation, automate repetitive design tasks and streamline production timelines.
Personalizing Content at Scale – Examining how AI can help tailor visual content for diverse audiences while maintaining brand consistency.
Ethical Considerations and Best Practices – Discussing the responsible use of AI in creative industries and ensuring that human creativity remains at the center of storytelling.
“We use a lot of AI tools out there, and much of it is now built into our production software,” said Lee Little, a Lewis Senior Graphic Artist in Birmingham. “Our advanced users have made a focused effort into these new platforms and technologies, and to hear their questions during the workshop brought a great deal of insight. Dialogue with Rory also helped demystify the art of writing an AI prompt to efficiently get the search results we’re looking for.”
One of the biggest takeaways from Hacking Visual Content Creation with AI was seeing how AI can be used in relatable, day-to-day workplace situations. By seeing how AI solves common problems in the creative process, you begin to understand what’s possible.
“Everybody is talking about AI,” said Pablo Riquelme, UX/UI Designer in our Nashville office. “So, OK, I want to use it. But it’s an entirely new way of approaching your work and workflow. Then, we do this workshop and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, I can see what’s possible and how to harness it.’”
AI as a Creative Partner
When it comes to integrating AI into our work, we’re aiming for balance and a useful mix of emerging technologies and human creativity. For instance, AI-generated images can serve as a springboard for designers, automating the base level work and providing inspiration that can be refined and personalized by creative minds. While AI-driven automation can handle mundane tasks, our creative teams are freed to focus on high-level conceptual thinking.
“At one point, Rory spoke of the excess of time spent by art directors and designers looking for existing stock to match an idea you have in your head and how significant editing may still have to be done to somewhat match your original vision,” said Audrey Mecke, a designer in Lewis’ Mobile office. “I’m excited to use AI to curate that vision from scratch.”
The Hacking Visual Content Creation with AI workshop was just the beginning. As we continue to explore AI’s potential, we’ll seek out new tools, refine our processes and identify opportunities to integrate AI-driven solutions into our client work.
Final Thoughts: Team Chemistry
While investing in our creative teams and their continued education was key, there was also the secondary goal of bringing coworkers together across offices. Teams from Mobile, Birmingham and Nashville were able to share lunch and dinner together, before an evening out at Topgolf.
“I loved that we all blended together to make cross-office Topgolf teams,” said Mecke.
In team sports, it’s not uncommon for players and coaches to tout the intangible benefits of team chemistry and rapport among team members. These traits are equally important in professional offices like ours, impacting job satisfaction and, as a result, performance.
“It’s great when you have a chance to spend time with coworkers outside of the office,” said Riquelme. “You get to know the people you work with. And, honestly, it’s awesome. We all have a lot in common because of the shared work we do, and the shared interests that brought us into this type of work in the first place.”
