AI is… everywhere. In a way that kind of scares me (and I know I’m not alone here). But it’s not going anywhere, and over the past year or so, I’ve started to figure out how to use it effectively in both my business and my personal life.
And honestly, it’s still very much a work in progress.
Sometimes I find myself asking it questions I could totally answer myself. Sometimes I ask it to write an email I probably should’ve just written. I am a human, not a robot, after all… I’m learning!
What I have learned through all this trial and error is that when I use AI properly, it can be a really helpful assistant. It can’t replace my brain or my creativity, but it can help me flesh out ideas or get quick answers.
And when I lean into that, I get some of my time back — whether that’s for work that actually matters or just being present in real life.
So without further ado (and with the caveat that I’m still learning every day), here’s how I’ve been using AI in my design business and my life.
AI in business
ChatGPT for help with marketing & copy cleanup
When I give ChatGPT good prompts, it’s incredibly helpful for marketing tasks I used to overthink (and often never finish):
- Cleaning up email newsletters or blog posts
- Brainstorming themes for my Pinterest color palette series
- Helping shape sales page copy for new offers
This still requires my own thinking, but it gets me out of decision fatigue and actually moves things forward.
Figma Make for help with web design
For any non-designers reading, Figma is a collaborative design tool — kind of like Google Docs, but for design. It’s where I create websites, social posts, blog imagery, and more.
Figma Make is their AI tool, and while I’m still experimenting with it, I’ve found it helpful for exploring wireframes and layout ideas. It’s definitely not a replacement for a designer, but it has helped me see new ways to structure content that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.
Midjourney for help with sketches
Midjourney is an AI tool that turns written prompts into images.
I’m still learning this one too, but I’ve found it useful as an illustration assistant. I’ll generate a reference image, then recreate it in my own style. It’s less about the final output and more about helping me visualize ideas.
What I DON’T use AI for
- Design work — that’s still all me. I’m the creative director here
- Creative ideas — I’ve tried… it’s not great (and not fun)
- Client communication — my clients work with me, not a robot
AI in my personal life
I’ve found a couple simple ways AI actually does improve my day-to-day (and many ways it doesn’t):
Baby questions:
When I was pregnant and early postpartum, I fell deep into Reddit rabbit holes (which can be… chaotic). Now I use ChatGPT to get quick, clear answers without the overwhelm.
Things like: how long to steam broccoli, how often to apply baby sunscreen, or how long I can save an unfinished bottle.
Quick Google searches:
Sometimes it just replaces a search and saves me time – simple as that!
What I don’t use AI for in my personal life:
- Recipes & meal planning — the recipes it gives me are… not great. Nothing beats browsing real recipes and seeing what actually looks good.
- Home organizing — I’ve tried, but honestly my brain just does a better job here.
- Personal styling — I was intrigued by this one, but haven’t quite cracked how to make it useful yet.
- Travel planning — I’ve found recommendations can be outdated, and I genuinely love the process of researching places to go and restaurants to try.
How this led to my newest offer
As I’ve explored AI over the past several months, I kept coming back to one question:
How can I use this to not just make my life easier, but actually serve my clients better?
And more specifically — how can I better support early-stage, self-funded founders?
So many people I talk to know they need a website, but get stuck — overthinking their branding, waiting to feel “ready,” or feeling like they don’t have the time or budget for a full custom project.
And honestly, traditional timelines don’t always make sense at this stage.
So I started experimenting with using AI behind the scenes to streamline my process — without compromising quality.
It’s a fast, focused brand and website build where I act as the creative director and designer, using AI to speed up the behind-the-scenes work and simplify decisions.
The result: a cohesive, professional brand and website — built in days, not months.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, this might be exactly what you need to move forward.
→ Learn more about Brand + Website in a Week
I’d also love to hear how you are using AI — in your business or personal life. Leave me a message below.
