AI in Design: How Sevn is Solving the Global Shortage of Graphic Designers

What is Sevn?

Sevn is a pioneering start-up founded in 2023, located in the innovation hub of San Francisco. This start-up is the brainchild of Jean Kaddour and Srijan Patel, two seasoned professionals with a deep background in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Their combined expertise has led to the creation of an AI-driven ad generator aimed at transforming the way businesses approach graphic design. With Sevn, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can produce advertisements at a speed ten times faster than traditional methods, which typically involve hiring designers.

Who are the Founders of Sevn?

Jean Kaddour and Srijan Patel, the founders of Sevn, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Jean holds a Ph.D. in Machine Learning from University College London (UCL), which provides a strong academic foundation for his work. His research focused on large language models (LLMs), making him well-versed in the intricacies of AI technology. Srijan, on the other hand, has a rich background in applied machine learning, having worked at major tech companies like Meta and JioSaavn. His experience in handling large-scale ML projects complements Jean’s theoretical insights, making them a formidable team in the AI and tech landscape.

What Problem Does Sevn Address?

The primary issue that Sevn aims to solve is the global shortage of graphic designers. In today’s fast-paced business environment, companies need high-quality graphic designs for a multitude of purposes. These include creating compelling advertisements to promote their products and services, designing attractive landing pages to engage visitors, developing user-friendly interfaces for their applications, and preparing professional presentations for their clients. However, hiring skilled designers can be prohibitively expensive, especially for SMBs. The scarcity of affordable and talented graphic designers poses a significant challenge for many businesses, limiting their ability to compete effectively.

How Does Sevn's AI Graphic Designer Work?

Sevn’s AI graphic designer is designed to bridge this gap by providing an accessible and efficient solution. The AI operates by generating designs in a step-by-step manner, allowing users to interact with it as if they were communicating with a human designer. This interactive process enables businesses to iterate over designs, making adjustments and refinements until they achieve the desired results. The AI remains tireless and responsive, ensuring that users can experiment with various design concepts without the usual constraints of time and cost.

One of the standout features of Sevn’s AI graphic designer is the Copilot agent. This feature allows users to perform complex edits with ease. The Copilot interface is intuitive and user-friendly, enabling even those with limited design experience to make sophisticated adjustments. Whether it’s altering the layout, changing color schemes, or adding intricate details, the Copilot agent makes these tasks manageable and straightforward.

What Features Does Sevn Offer?

Sevn offers a suite of powerful features that set it apart from traditional design tools. These features are tailored to meet the diverse needs of modern businesses, ensuring that they can create professional-grade designs effortlessly:

1. On-brand Visuals: Sevn’s AI ensures that all designs adhere to the company’s branding guidelines. This consistency is crucial for maintaining a strong brand identity across various marketing materials.
2. Fully Editable Designs: The AI provides designs with layers that can be modified as needed. This flexibility allows users to tweak and customize their designs to suit specific requirements.
3. Complex Edits with Copilot: The Copilot interface enables users to perform intricate edits with precision. This feature is particularly beneficial for creating detailed and polished designs that meet professional standards.

What Inspired the Creation of Sevn?

The inspiration behind Sevn stemmed from Jean and Srijan’s personal experiences and frustrations. Throughout their careers, they had spent countless hours creating designs for their research and work projects. Despite their extensive knowledge in AI and ML, they found themselves struggling with the creative aspects of design. They realized that while they could recognize good design, they lacked the skills to create it themselves. This gap between recognizing quality and being able to produce it highlighted the need for a more accessible solution.

Their attempts to use large language models (LLMs) to automate design tasks revealed the limitations of existing AI technologies in this area. Even the best LLMs available struggled with the visual and creative elements required for graphic design. This discovery spurred them to develop a solution that could overcome these challenges and make high-quality design accessible to all businesses. Their goal was to create a tool that could democratize design, empowering companies of all sizes to produce stunning visuals without the need for extensive design knowledge or resources.

What Challenges Did the Founders Face?

Developing Sevn was not without its challenges. One of the major hurdles Jean and Srijan faced was the inherent difficulty of using LLMs for graphic design. While LLMs are adept at processing language and generating text, they struggled with the visual and creative aspects of design. Creating an AI that could not only understand design principles but also apply them in a practical and user-friendly manner required significant innovation.

The founders had to invest considerable time and effort into refining their AI models and developing the Copilot interface. They needed to ensure that the AI could handle a wide range of design tasks, from simple adjustments to complex edits. This involved extensive testing and iteration, as well as incorporating feedback from early users to improve the system’s functionality and usability.

How Does Sevn Benefit SMBs?

For SMBs, Sevn offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative to hiring professional graphic designers. By automating the design process, Sevn enables businesses to produce high-quality visual content quickly and affordably. This not only enhances their marketing efforts but also improves their overall brand presence and user experience. With Sevn, SMBs can create compelling advertisements, attractive landing pages, and user-friendly interfaces without the need for specialized design skills or significant financial investment.

What is the Vision for Sevn?

The vision for Sevn is to democratize access to professional-grade graphic design. Jean and Srijan aim to empower businesses of all sizes to create stunning visuals without the need for extensive design knowledge or resources. By continually refining their AI and expanding its capabilities, they hope to make Sevn an indispensable tool for businesses worldwide. Their goal is to transform the landscape of graphic design, making it more accessible, efficient, and affordable for everyone.

How is Sevn Positioned in the Market?

Sevn is uniquely positioned in the market as an AI-powered solution tailored specifically for graphic design. Unlike generic design tools or freelance platforms, Sevn offers a dedicated AI that can understand and respond to user inputs in real-time, making it a versatile and user-friendly option for businesses. This specialization gives Sevn a competitive edge and allows it to cater to the specific needs of its target audience.

What Does the Future Hold for Sevn?

Looking ahead, Sevn plans to expand its feature set and enhance its AI capabilities to cover an even broader range of design needs. This includes integrating more advanced editing tools, improving the user interface, and offering additional customization options. By staying at the forefront of AI technology and continuously adapting to market demands, Sevn aims to remain a leader in the field of AI-driven graphic design.

In conclusion, Sevn represents a significant advancement in the field of graphic design, offering an innovative solution to a pressing problem faced by many businesses. With its powerful AI capabilities and user-centric approach, Sevn is poised to transform the way companies create and utilize graphic designs, making high-quality visuals accessible to all. Jean and Srijan’s vision, dedication, and expertise have culminated in a tool that not only addresses a critical need but also sets new standards for what is possible with AI in the realm of design.