Happy Holid-AI!

Season’s greetings from your friends (and some quasi-sentient robots) at Doubleknot Creative.

Everyone seems to be talking about AI this year, so we decided to swallow our pride and let the bots make our holiday card. In the spirit of learning, we’re sharing this groundbreaking inter-species creative process with you—in its entirety… ehem… for science.

Is it lazy? Innovative? Kinda weird?? You bet it is.

AI PROMPT:

Design a holiday card for a creative agency called Doubleknot to send to clients. It should be classy, festive, and heartfelt.

AI OUTPUT #1:

Cozy holiday scene with two leather club chairs and fireplace

JESSICA’S FEEDBACK:

“Yikes. This looks like we ripped off a bad stock design from Minted.com. Can we make it look like actual designers worked on it?”

AI OUTPUT #2:

Two hipsters with coffee cups sitting in front of large ornaments and Christmas trees

AARON’S FEEDBACK:

“It should feel less trendy… or at least give it more of a Pacific Northwest vibe.”

AI OUTPUT #3:

Seattle skyline with Space Needle and giant Christmas tree

ZAK’S FEEDBACK:

“Copy feels uninspired. Let’s add something clever… puns are ALWAYS hilarious!”

AI OUTPUT #4:

Hands raising mugs of egg nog and toasting

ELOISE’S FEEDBACK:

“Groan. Can we reduce the dad-joke-factor by about 50%, but dial up the Holiday Spirit?”

AI OUTPUT #5:

Drunk man with holiday sweater passed out in front of Christmas tree

MELINDA’S FEEDBACK:

“A little too much Holiday Spirit! And it doesn’t feel culturally relevant. I’d LOVE to see a little more Ryan Gosling in it. I mean wouldn’t we all.”

AI OUTPUT #6:

Ryan Gosling as a holiday-inspired Ken doll

VANESSA’S FEEDBACK:

“Meh, we’re never going to get away with using copyrighted material. We need something original, and less traditional… needs to feel cool and hip.”

AI OUTPUT #7:

Hipster Santa with sunglasses and smoking a large joint

JIM’S FEEDBACK:

“Maybe it’s just the eggnog talking, but I think we’re almost there. It has to be non-denominational… kinda edgy and playful, but also badass.

When in doubt, put a bird on it!

(And can we pump up the logo just a little?)”

AI OUTPUT #8:

Screeching bald eagle with wings spread and surrounded by holiday ribbons and bows

We like to joke, but the truth is, we’re excited by the potential of these tools and the new ways of working they open up. But, while AI is indeed powerful, it’s only as good as the ideas you feed it. Just like in the work we do with all you actual humans, deep curiosity and clear communication are everything. You can’t solve a problem until you can understand it. You can’t get what you need unless you can ask for what you want.

Thank you for continuing to trust us with your business, your brand, and your customers. We look forward to navigating whatever challenges you bring us in 2024, and to helping you make more—and more human—connections in this crazy digital world.

—Your friends at Doubleknot (Melinda, Zak, Jim, Vanessa, Aaron, Jessica and Eloise)

The 2023 Doubleknot Holiday Card(s)