Introducing the fascinating realm of generative AI to my team has been an exciting journey. By organizing a workshops series, I’ve been able to not only educate myself but also infuse a dose of creativity and fun into the learning process.

Comedy Improv with Adobe’s Firefly

To kick off the series, I took a unique approach by blending education with entertainment. Our first workshop was styled after the comedy improv show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” The spotlight was on Adobe’s Firefly, as we explored its capabilities in a lighthearted and engaging manner. This format helped break down complex concepts in a relatable way, ensuring everyone had a great time while getting acquainted with generative AI.

The AI Battle – Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion

Our second workshop added a competitive twist. It was a head-to-head AI battle, where I—using Stable Diffusion—squared off against another presenter using Midjourney. Each round presented us with a prompt to generate from, and our team members voted on whose AI creation reigned supreme. This approach injected some friendly rivalry into the learning process and showcased the diverse outcomes possible through generative AI tools.

Wordsmiths Unleashed – Dive into ChatGPT

Recognizing the importance of catering to various team roles, our third workshop was tailor-made for our copywriters. I invited a seasoned writer to help present on the inner workings of ChatGPT, shedding light on how interprets text and generates responses. To put theory into practice, we crafted a choose-your-own-adventure story using ChatGPT, exploring its capabilities for creative content generation. The story became engaging enough that the adventure continued through the end of the day in Slack.

Conclusion

The End of HumAnIty series proved to be a fun and engaging approach to introduce generative AI to our team. From improv-style image creation to AI battles and creative writing, each session has showcased the endless possibilities that AI offers. By blending education, creativity, and camaraderie, we’re not only expanding our knowledge but also fostering a culture of innovation and exploration within our team.

Overview

SXSW hosts a pitch competition every year which showcases innovative new technology to a panel of industry experts, high-profile media professionals, venture capital investors, and angel investors. And every year, they team with PitchBook to release a PDF report showcasing industry trends and highlighting standouts in the competition. SXSW is an event known for its dynamic and ever-evolving branding, designing a report for them presented an exciting yet challenging opportunity.

Embracing the SXSW Brand

Knowing that SXSW rebrands every year and embraces bold colors and eye-catching patterns, I aimed to ensure that the PitchBook Report reflected the event’s unique identity. By immersing myself in the guidelines and studying previous branding iterations, I gained insights into the key elements that defined the SXSW brand and incorporated them into my approach.

Integrating Personality and Interactivity

I wanted to incorporate as much of their brand’s personality into the report as I could so I added an interactive table of contents and mouseover highlights on hyperlinks throughout the report.

Creative Touches and Visual Appeal

Understanding the importance of visual appeal, I employed the brand’s vibrant colors and patterns to signify specific topics of interest. Also, by incorporating custom icons into the Industry Categories section, I aimed to captivate readers’ attention and evoke a sense of excitement and innovation.

Overview

Every year, Pitchbook updates their “Black Founders and Investors You Should Know” blog post, and after their rebrand in 2022 I was asked if I would like to take on the latest update. Always eager for a challenge I was happy to take this on.

Content and Visual Updates

I was privileged to get to work with Kelly Knickerbocker to ensure that the blog post’s content was current and reflective of the latest information and insights in the industry. Additionally, I aligned the visuals with PitchBook’s new brand guidelines, incorporating a cohesive and modern aesthetic.

Code Optimization

To improve the performance and maintainability of the blog post, I brought the HTML and CSS code up to date with current best practices. This optimization also included implementing responsive design principles, allowing for a seamless experience across various devices and screen sizes.

Featured Image and Social Media Carousels

I also created the hero image and designed carousels for social media featuring standouts from the blog post, allowing for effective promotion and increasing its reach among the target audience.

Improved Navigation

Recognizing the length of the blog post, I implemented jump links that enable users to easily navigate to specific sections of interest. Additionally, I included a back-to-top button for convenient scrolling.