It was only earlier this year that I heard about Midjourney, the generative AI system that creates images from text prompts, as well as its competitors Stability AI, Deviant Art, and Runway AI.
How did I know? They had all been in the news because of a lawsuit over AI-generated images and the works of over 4,000 artists used to train companies’ AI machines.
Founded two years earlier by serial entrepreneur David Holz, Midjourney was one of the first tools to harness the visual output created by artificial intelligence.
Yet it was the negative buzz around these companies that eventually piqued my interest in how AI could enhance or support my creativity. (Although legally, that would be better.) I started researching how I could create a logo for my business through Midjourney.
To get started, you’ll need a Discord account, which is free. I discovered Discord through community organizers who were also gamers, so it was interesting to see a creative AI tool being used in what I consider to be a more tech- and user-experience-focused version of Slack.
You can then access the Midjourney Bot via Discord via browser, mobile app, or desktop app.
While Discord is free, you’ll need to sign up for a Midjourney subscription to start generating images. Monthly prices start at $10, and you can save 20% if you sign up for an annual subscription.
You can read CNET’s full review of Midjourney (as well as its competitors Dall-E 3 and Adobe Firefly), but here’s how I fared when trying to create a business logo.
How to use Midjourney to create a logo
Step 1: Join the Midjourney server on Discord – locate the server list in the left sidebar, press the + button and click Join a server button. Then add Midjourney’s Discord account and press Join.
2nd step: You can now interact with Midjourney Bot using a command, used to create images, change default settings, and other tasks. In particular, the /imagine The command can create a unique image or logo in response to a prompt, which is a short text description of the type of image you’re looking for. The Midjourney bot will interpret your description and produce an image in response. Be aware: You’ll need to agree to Midjourney’s terms of service to proceed with image creation — and be sure to follow its community guidelines throughout the process.
Step 3: After sending a text prompt for Midjourney’s image creation, it will create four unique image options in less than a minute. The image creation process uses GPUs (graphics processing units), which accumulate and are tracked with your Midjourney subscription. Each minute used to complete a task is considered a GPU minute. If you run out, you can purchase more Quick Hours (which are used to generate images). To see your remaining time, enter /Info in Discord and watch Fast time remaining.
Step 4: It’s time to get creative! You can now select one of the four images created or generate other variations from what Midjourney produces. The images are immediately generated in 1024 x 1024 pixels. You can also Rebroadcast Or Relaunch prompt and produce a new grid of images.
Step 5: Once you have selected an image from your set, various options become available, including creating a Strong Or Subtle variation of your selected image. Zoom, Stove, Favorite Or the Webwhich opens the image in your gallery on the Midjourney website.
Step 6: Now that you have produced, polished, and created your final image, you can save it by opening the image in full view, then right-clicking and choosing Save ImageOn mobile, long press the image, then click the Download icon in the upper right corner.
Other tools to discover in Midjourney are its one-on-one direct messaging capabilities, tips and tricks for writing prompts, and how to use the /blend command when creating images.
Should you use Midjourney to create a logo?
All the AI-generated images have a surreal feel that doesn’t necessarily fit my vision of a company logo. I think Midjourney is more likely to become a replacement for stock photos than a system for producing creative company logos.
Given that it’s connected to Discord, which is originally a gaming communication platform, my guess is that Midjourney’s AI-generated images fit more into a gamer’s fantasy world than an entrepreneur’s need for brand identity, but perhaps that’s the intention.
I’m a big advocate for using AI to increase efficiency and productivity. However, this specific AI tool doesn’t sit well with me, and I don’t think designers should worry about Midjourney replacing them in the creative workforce.
Still undecided? Check out the images created in Midjourney via their Instagram account and read our experience using Midjourney to create personalized wedding invitations.
