It’s not a new thing that technology upsets everything. Decades ago we went from analog process to digital, from paper and paste-up to computers, fromputing with computers to drawing with them. And no AI is disrupting the creative professions, bringing with it both concerns and opportunities.
As creative, our first response was intellectual property rights. Bots scrape existing content without discretion in regard to copyright and ownership. The concern that creatives will lose their livelihoods because machines and algorithms are taking over lends to this fear. Businesses and organizations that are potential clients are turning to artificial intelligence to create visual and written content.
So how do we as freelance creatives respond to “Why would I pay you when I can do it myself in minutes for free?”
The answer lies in knowing what is our value. We will need to pivot and tweak to ensure we can continue to make a living from our work.
I don’t have all the answer but, hving lived through the paste-up-to-digital transition and thriving, I have some thoughts.
To summarize, our value isn’t in the time we spend or the tools we use, but in our critical practice, creative thinking and problem solving.
Every new tech emergence disrupts our way of working and living. We know this. To assume otherwise is foolish.
It’s written in the book of Proverbs that the prudent [person] sees trouble coming and prepares for it.
We designers, photographers, illustrators, and copywriters have the ability to take hold of the tech and bend it to our purposes. We ask, What can I create with these tools? What can I systematize in my freelance business with these tools? How can I increase my perceived value in the marketplace with these tools?
- Adjust our service offerings.
- Focus on strategy over execution.
- Diversity our income sources.
- Create and sell content.
We are creatives. We can adapt and adopt new tech, and above all, continue to solve business problems for our clients in innovative ways.
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