💥 Designing Ad Creatives and Banners Using AI Tools

Part of 🎨 AI-Powered Digital Designer Crash Course (25-Part Series) 🖼️ Section 3: Practical Design Projects with AI in AI-Powered Digital Designer Crash Course

The beautifully chaotic (but totally doable) journey from “blank canvas” to scroll-stopping ads

So You Wanna Design an Ad, Huh?

Let me guess. Your client just sent you a message like:

“We’re launching a promo this week. Can you do a few banner ads for it? Shouldn’t be a big thing.”

And then they casually drop a Google Doc full of product details, three slogans they “sort of like,” and no clear idea of what the ad should look like.

Coolcoolcool.

Listen, I’ve been there. One minute you’re tweaking a button size, next minute you’re falling down a YouTube rabbit hole titled “How to design like a real pro (even if you cry a little)”.

But fear not, digital design warrior. You’re not alone, and you’re definitely not doomed. Designing ad creatives with AI isn’t just possible—it’s wildly effective, kind of fun, and a major time-saver when done right.

So pull up a seat (or a couch, or that weird stool in your kitchen), and let’s talk ad design. For real.

🌍 Why Ad Creatives Still Matter (Even in a World of 3-Second Attention Spans)

Here’s the cold truth: People are tired. Overstimulated. Scrolling like Olympic athletes.

If your ad doesn’t say something clearly and look good doing it, they’re outta there. That’s why design matters—especially when you’re advertising.

Ad creatives aren’t just about “looking pretty.” They need to:

• Get noticed instantly (aka pass the “thumb scroll test”)
• Communicate a message clearly
• Represent the brand identity (yep, even for TikTok ads)
• Be emotionally resonant — ideally without causing eye twitches

But hey — before you go into a design spiral — remember: you’ve got AI in your corner now.

🤖 AI Tools: Your Creative Sidekick, Not Your Overlord

Let’s clear something up: AI won’t replace your creativity. Not unless you let it.

What it will do is help you:

• Get started faster
• Create multiple concepts (without sobbing into your coffee)
• Automate repetitive junk (resizing, background removal, etc.)
• Explore new styles you hadn’t thought of

Think of AI as your over-caffeinated intern: It’s enthusiastic, sometimes weird, and surprisingly helpful when you know how to ask the right things.

🧠 Step 1: Clarify the Creative Direction (Even if Your Client Doesn’t Know What They Want)

This part’s a bit like therapy. You’re not just a designer; you’re a feelings translator.

Start by asking:

• Who’s the ad for? (Busy moms? Gen Z gamers? Retired dentists?)
• What action do we want them to take? (Click, sign up, buy, cry tears of joy?)
• Where will the ad live? (Instagram story? Google Display Network? A podcast ad with static banners?)

If the client sends a vague brief like:

“Just make it pop,”

Your follow-up should be:

“Cool! When you say ‘pop,’ do you mean bright colors, bold fonts, or something that stands out from your other ads?”

Spoiler: They usually don’t know. But that’s okay. Because AI can help you test and explore all those options.

🎨 Step 2: Choose Your Weapons (aka Your AI-Powered Design Tools)

Here are some of my go-tos for ad creative and banners — especially when speed and options matter:

🛠️ The Toolkit:

• Canva – Obvious? Sure. But the “Magic Design” tool can build layouts from one image. And it’s killer for fast social ads.
• Adobe Express – Polished templates, brand kits, auto-resizing (for 50 ad sizes, because clients always ask).
• Bannerbear – Fully AI-generated banner ads with real-time data. Wildly useful for ecommerce.
• Remove.bg – Backgrounds gone. In seconds. Like wizardry.
• Looka or Khroma – Generate brand-aligned colors without opening a single hex code chart.
• ChatGPT – Ask it to write ad copy, rework CTAs, or A/B test headlines. Seriously.

Mix and match depending on your project. No need to marry one tool. This is a design situationship.

🪄 Step 3: Build with Purpose, Not Just Aesthetics

Let’s get real. An ad that looks good but says nothing? Useless.

But one that screams “BUY NOW!” in neon Comic Sans? Also useless. (And illegal in the design community, probably.)

So what makes an ad work?

✏️ Formula for Killer Creatives:

1. Visual Hook – This could be bold text, a surprising image, or a clever visual metaphor.
2. Headline – Clear, punchy, benefit-driven. No fluff.
3. Subtext or Feature – Support the headline. Keep it tight.
4. Call to Action (CTA) – Tell ‘em what to do, and say it like a human. (No “Submit your interest for further inquiry.” Ew.)
5. Brand Alignment – Make sure the font, color, and tone feel right.

You can totally draft this in ChatGPT first:

“Write 3 ad headline options for a skincare brand launching a hydrating serum. Tone: playful, smart, Instagram-savvy.”

Then drop the winner into your visual template.

🧪 A/B Testing is Not Optional (Sorry)

The truth is, the first thing you make probably won’t be the best. Even if it’s gorgeous.

So here’s where AI gets really spicy:
Use tools like AdCreative.ai or Canva’s brand kits to quickly generate multiple versions of an ad.

Try:

• Swapping headlines
• Testing different CTA buttons
• Using warm vs cool tones

Then show the client:

“Hey, here are three ad versions testing different messages. Based on engagement, we’ll know which direction to expand.”

Suddenly you’re not just a designer—you’re a strategist. Clients love that.

🎭 Real Talk: That One Time I Designed an Ad That Was Too Good

So I once designed a banner ad for a travel startup. It was bright, beachy, and had this dreamy CTA button that said “Book Your Escape.”

They LOVED it. Ran it across socials.

…And got a flood of accidental clicks. Like, people thought it was an actual booking site.

Guess what? Their bounce rate went up. Oops.

Moral of the story? Pretty isn’t always persuasive. Make sure your ad matches intent — and set expectations clearly. Also? Test, test, test.

😬 Don’t Let Banners Be Boring

I have one rule with banner ads: if it looks like a dentist made it in WordArt, it’s a no.

Even Google Display ads deserve some flair. Try this:

• Use movement (subtle animations via tools like Lottie or Motion App)
• Add illustration overlays using AI-powered art tools like Kittl or Designify
• Use slang or cultural references your target audience will actually understand (yes, even memes… carefully)

Example: Designing for Gen Z? That “Buy Now” button isn’t hitting. Try “Treat yo’ self” instead. Tone matters more than you think.

✨ Final Thoughts (and a Bit of Designer Therapy)

Look. Ad design can be frustrating. Sometimes your favorite concept gets cut. Sometimes you spend two hours aligning a button and still hate it.

But other times? You make something that clicks. It drives conversions. A stranger on the internet actually stops and feels something.

That’s the magic of design. Even with AI involved, it’s your taste, intuition, and eye that make it matter.

So the next time you’re staring at a blank canvas thinking, “What if I’m not cut out for this?”

Remember:

• You’ve got tools.
• You’ve got taste.
• And AI is your wingman, not your competition.

Go design the kind of ad that makes someone pause mid-scroll and go:

“Wait, that’s cool.”

Because that—that tiny moment of connection? That’s what we’re chasing.

🎁 Want a Downloadable Ad Template Pack + Cheat Sheet?

I can whip one up! Includes:

• 5 editable AI-ready ad templates
• Copywriting prompts for ChatGPT
• A/B testing checklist
• My “no Comic Sans” font guide (lol but not lol)

Just say the word. You earned it.

Next Up in the Course:
💡 “Building Full-Fledged Campaigns with AI: From Concept to Conversion in Days, Not Weeks”

Let’s keep creating. You’ve got this.