Artificial intelligence is becoming an important part of professional web design, and I believe it will continue to shape how the industry works.
At Hale Creative, I use AI because it can help me research, explore ideas, solve problems, and work more effectively. But AI is never working alone. I direct every project, bringing my own creativity and professional judgment to the work and collaborating with you throughout the process.
AI supports my work, and I remain responsible for what I deliver to you.
How I use AI
AI may assist me throughout my creative and technical process. This can include research, planning, content development, search engine optimization, design exploration, coding, troubleshooting, accessibility, documentation, and project administration.
Because AI is integrated into much of my workflow, I do not attempt to document every routine use. I make the decisions and take responsibility for the result.
I am responsible for:
- Understanding your organization, audience, and goals
- Establishing the strategy and creative direction
- Making design and branding decisions
- Reviewing and refining the work
- Collaborating with you throughout the project
- Taking responsibility for the final result
I do not simply prompt an AI system and pass its output along to you. I review, evaluate, and shape substantive AI-assisted work before delivering or publishing it. You will also have meaningful opportunities to review and approve your project.
Privacy and client information
I may use client materials with carefully selected AI tools when doing so serves the project. I choose tools and settings with appropriate privacy protections and do not knowingly allow confidential client information to be used to train public AI models.
Passwords, financial information, personal records, and other highly sensitive information will not be entered into public AI tools.
If using AI would require unusually sensitive or substantial confidential material, I will discuss it with you and obtain your permission first.
Meeting recordings and notes
My client meetings are ordinarily recorded and transcribed using Google Gemini. This helps me create accurate summaries, document decisions, identify action items, and keep projects moving.
These recordings, transcripts, and summaries become part of my normal client records. They are retained within Google Workspace according to my usual settings and recordkeeping practices and are used only for legitimate project and business purposes.
I will inform you of this practice, and you may request that a particular meeting not be recorded.
Images and visual representation
I prefer authentic client photography whenever it is available. Real images usually communicate an organization’s identity, people, and work better than stock or generated imagery can.
I may use AI-generated stock-style images, illustrations, backgrounds, or decorative art elements when they are appropriate for a project. However, I will never use generated or inaccurate images to misrepresent a church, nonprofit, business, its community, or the people it serves.
Significant client-facing uses of generated imagery will be disclosed and discussed with you.
Logos and brand identity
Logo design is not one of my primary services, but I may occasionally provide it as part of a broader project.
When I do, AI may assist with rough ideas or early visual exploration. As a rule, however, I do not deliver a completely AI-generated logo as original or exclusive design work.
AI-generated logos can raise legitimate questions about originality, copyright protection, trademark registration, and exclusive ownership. I therefore approach their use carefully and rely on my own design work and refinement.
Copyright, licensing, and ownership
My final work may include original design, properly licensed resources, client-provided materials, and carefully reviewed AI-assisted content.
I evaluate and meaningfully shape AI-assisted material before it becomes part of a deliverable. Themes, plugins, fonts, stock media, and other third-party resources remain subject to their own licenses.
The ownership and usage rights for your deliverables are governed by your service agreement with Hale Creative. I cannot guarantee exclusive copyright ownership of material created substantially by AI.
Clients are responsible for ensuring that they have permission to use any text, photography, branding, or other materials they provide to me.
Transparency and client choice
This statement provides a general explanation of how AI fits into my work. I do not itemize every AI-assisted search, edit, code suggestion, or administrative task, but I will disclose significant uses that materially affect your finished deliverables.
You are always welcome to ask how AI has been used on your project.
Because AI is integrated throughout my normal workflow, I generally do not offer completely AI-free projects. That does not mean AI makes the decisions. It means I use modern tools thoughtfully and responsibly, while bringing my own creativity and judgment to the work and staying in conversation with you.
Common questions
Is AI designing my website?
Not by itself. AI may assist with research, exploration, content, code, and other parts of the process, but I determine the strategy, design direction, branding, and final implementation in collaboration with you.
Will my website look like an AI-generated template?
No. Your website will be shaped around your organization, audience, content, and goals. I do not hand unreviewed AI output to clients or allow AI to substitute for thoughtful design.
Can I request a completely AI-free project?
Generally, no. AI is now integrated into my normal creative, technical, and administrative workflow. However, you are welcome to raise specific concerns or ask how information and AI-assisted content will be handled.
Have questions about my use of AI? I’m glad to talk about it.