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Design a Flyer with AI

40-45 minutesBest for: People interested in practical design and visual content creation

What You'll Do

Create a flyer for a real or imaginary event, business, or project using AI design tools. You'll explore two different approaches and reflect on what AI got right and what it struggled with.

The Setup

First, decide what your flyer is for. Pick something real or make it up:
  • •A garage sale, bake sale, or community event
  • •A party or celebration (birthday, graduation, holiday gathering)
  • •A small business or service (real or imaginary)
  • •A fundraiser or volunteer opportunity
  • •A club, group, or hobby meetup

Gather Your Key Information

Your flyer needs to include:
  • •Main headline or title
  • •Date, time, and location (if applicable)
  • •Contact info (email, phone, or website)
  • •Any other important details (price, RSVP instructions, etc.)

Approach A: Generate a Flyer with Google Gemini

Gemini (Google's AI) is currently the best at generating images with readable text, which is crucial for flyers.

6Go to Gemini

Go to https://gemini.google.com (sign in with your Google account if prompted)

Use this prompt template — fill in the bracketed sections with your details

Prompt - Copy and paste this:
Create a professional flyer for [describe your event/business/party]. Essential text to include: - Main headline: [your headline text] - Date/time: [when] - Location: [where] - Contact: [email/phone/website] Visual style: - Overall vibe: [modern/vintage/playful/elegant/bold] - Colors: [2-3 colors] - Imagery: [describe what should be pictured] Layout: Standard flyer size, easy to read, important info prominent

8Generate and evaluate

Did Gemini include all your text correctly? Is the layout clear and visually appealing? Would you actually print and use this flyer?

9Iterate if needed

If the text didn't come out right, try regenerating or simplifying your prompt. Ask for specific changes: "Can you make the headline bigger?" or "Use brighter colors"

Approach B: Design a Flyer with Canva's AI Tools

Canva has built-in AI features that can generate designs based on your description.

11Go to Canva

Go to https://canva.com and create a free account (or log in if you already have one).

12Start a new design

Click "Create a design" and search for "Flyer." Choose the flyer format.

13Use Canva's AI design assistant

Look for "Design with AI" or "Magic Design" (usually in the left sidebar or as a prompt when you start). Describe your event/business/project and provide your key details. Canva will generate several design options for you.

14Explore and refine

Browse the AI-generated options. Pick one and customize it if needed (change colors, fonts, images, layout). Try asking the AI to regenerate or adjust based on your preferences.

Reflection Questions

•Practical evaluation: Could you actually use this flyer? What would you need to fix before printing or sharing it?
•AI strengths: What surprised you about what the AI understood or created? What did it get right without you having to explain?
•AI limitations: What didn't work or required multiple attempts? Was there anything you couldn't get the AI to do correctly?
•Effort comparison: Was this faster than creating a flyer yourself from scratch, using a template, or hiring someone? Would you use AI for this type of task again?

Tips

  • •Text is tricky: Even the best AI image generators sometimes get text wrong. Gemini is currently the most reliable for this, but you may still need to regenerate or make manual edits.
  • •Be specific: The more detail you provide about style, colors, and mood, the better your results will be.
  • •Embrace iteration: Your first generation probably won't be perfect — that's normal. Try tweaking your prompt or regenerating.

General Tips for All Tasks

Getting Unstuck:

  • •If the AI tool isn't loading, try refreshing the page or switching browsers
  • •Make sure you're connected to wifi
  • •If an AI-generated result isn't what you wanted, try rephrasing your request or adding more detail
  • •Ask Connor for help!

If You Finish Early:

  • •Try a second task option from this list
  • •Help a neighbor get started with their task
  • •Experiment with variations (different room, different song style, different flyer design)

Remember:

  • •There's no "wrong" way to do this — experimentation is the whole point
  • •AI tools are getting better all the time, but they're not perfect
  • •The goal is to explore what's possible and figure out what's actually useful to you
  • •Have fun!

What to Bring Next Week (Optional)

  • •If you created something cool (a song, a design, a great conversation), be ready to share it
  • •Bring questions about AI tools or tasks you tried
  • •If something didn't work well, we can troubleshoot together
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