Get your stack together.
Why creatives need to layer their AI tools to stand out
Let’s face it, the AI content floodgates have burst wide open.
Everyone and their nan is now a “content creator”, armed with a chatbot and a Canva subscription. But while the internet is being carpet-bombed with AI-generated mediocrity, the value of true creativity , the kind that makes people feel something , is getting harder to spot in the crowd.
So what’s a creative to do? Ignore AI and cling to your sketchpad like it’s 1999? Tempting, but no. That’s like refusing to use spellcheck because you’re a “writer”. You’re not being noble, your being a nob.., making life harder for yourself.
Creativity Doesn’t Mean Anti-Tech: Here’s the truth. Ignoring AI tools is cutting your creative nose off to spite your beautifully expressive face. The real flex isn’t not using AI, it’s using it better than everyone else. That means stacking your tools, layering them like a good lasagne, and adapting them to your workflow so they actually serve your creativity rather than dilute it.
Layering: The Secret Sauce Think of your AI stack like your creative toolkit. You wouldn’t use just one brush to paint a masterpiece, so why rely on one AI tool to do everything?
Start with ideation tools to spark concepts (ChatGPT, Notion AI, etc.)
Use visual generators to mock up ideas quickly (Midjourney, DALL·E, Runway)
Automate mundane, time consuming tasks like formatting, resizing, and versioning (Canva, Adobe Firefly, Descript)
Deploy productivity tools to manage feedback loops and revisions (Trello, Slack integrations, Miro AI)
By layering these tools, you create efficiencies that free up your time , not to churn out more content, but to think better. That’s where the magic happens.
Why This Matters More in Corporate and Budget-Conscious Settings If you’re working with corporate clients or small marketing teams, you know the drill. Big expectations, small budgets, and even smaller timelines. You’re expected to be the strategist, the designer, the copywriter, and the brand therapist, all before lunch.
Layering your AI tools helps you:
Prototype faster without compromising polish
Deliver more value with fewer resources
Stay agile when briefs change (again)
Maintain creative integrity while still hitting deadlines
“It’s not about replacing your creativity, it’s about protecting it. The more you automate the boring bits, the more brainspace you have for the brilliant bits.”
Don’t be the creative who gets left behind because they refused to evolve. Be the one who uses AI like a pro , not to churn out cookie-cutter content, but to amplify your originality. Because in a world full of average Joe users, layered AI can actually help you stay extraordinary.