Why I Don't Work From AI-Generated Logos
This is coming up more and more, so let's talk about it.
Someone sends me a logo they made with ChatGPT or another AI tool and asks if I can clean it up, or recreate it, or use it as a starting point.
The answer is no, and it's not a design snobbery thing. Let me explain what's actually going on.
You don't own it
This is the big one.
AI-generated images generally can't be copyrighted, which means you can't protect the logo you're about to put on your building, your business cards, and every form your families sign. If another practice generates something nearly identical, you have no claim to it.
You also can't reliably trademark it. So the name and mark you're building a reputation on is sitting on ground you don't own.
There are no files
A logo isn't a picture. It's a set of files.
You need vector versions that scale from a favicon to a clinic sign without going fuzzy. You need transparent backgrounds. You need the actual font names and the exact hex codes so your website, your Canva templates, and your printed materials all match.
An AI image gives you a JPG. That's it. The moment you need it bigger, or on a different color, or in a different format, you're stuck.
It's designed to blend in
Here's the part that bothers me most as a designer.
AI generates what it has seen. It recommends what most businesses like yours are already doing. Which is the exact opposite of what you're paying for.
You're not trying to look like every other pediatric therapy practice. You're trying to look like yours. That takes someone asking why you started, who you serve, and what you want a parent to feel. AI doesn't ask you that.
What I'd do instead
If you've been using an AI logo to get by, honestly, no shame. It got you started and that counts for something.
But if you're at the point where you're investing in your practice, start fresh. A Brand Day gives you a logo you actually own, in every file format you'll ever need, built around your practice specifically.
And one small ask while we're here. When we work together, I want your real words in your questionnaire and your real gut reaction to the drafts. Not something polished up by AI. The messy version tells me so much more.
Ready for a brand you actually own? Reach out and I'll send over the details.
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About the Author
Carley Zuniga is a speech-language pathologist turned brand and website designer, and the founder of Something New Design Studio. After four years of running her own private practice, she now helps therapists build clear, cohesive brands and websites through her one-day Design Day Intensives. When she's not designing, she's at home in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, son, and French bulldog, Hugo.
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