Key Takeaways
• Generative AI is increasingly being used in the promotional products industry, with 24% of suppliers and 19% of distributors employing it for artwork or video generation, primarily to speed up design processes, create mockups and support brainstorming.
• AI art generators can significantly increase output and handle complex styles quickly, but they struggle with text accuracy, realistic embroidery design and the nuanced, emotional elements of high-profile logo creation.
• Experts cite potential job losses, high energy consumption and copyright risks as key concerns, prompting calls for transparency and thoughtful integration of AI into creative workflows.
Glowing geometric puzzle pieces fit together perfectly behind company logos. Moss-green Floridian foliage is the backdrop for swooping letters advertising a family festival. A grinning raccoon palms a frothy beer next to a witty catchphrase.
Few people would guess the graphics were created with the help of generative AI.
Decorated apparel industry veteran Marshall Atkinson helmed their creation, in part, using Midjourney, an AI model that specializes in images. He says AI-generated artwork cuts down his design time and can replace up to 80% of the creative process.
“Why would I spend three hours doing something when I can spend 20 minutes?” he asks.
While Atkinson says he still goes in manually to add elements like text, color and company-specific designs, he’s part of the growing number of designers using AI artwork for logo creation, brainstorming or other avenues that streamline the creative process.
According to the 2025 State of the Industry report, 24% of suppliers and 19% of distributors use AI for artwork or video generation — the second-most common reason to use the technology for suppliers and third-most common for distributors.
Read the rest of this article, complete with supplier and distributor survey data, on ASI Central.
