Leverage AI Visualization Tools Like Midjourney for Better Results
The third article in the three-part series on project managers using artificial intelligence in 2024.
Project managers often need poignant visuals but seldom have graphical artists at their fingertips. The same can be said for small businesses, which is how I entered the world of AI visualization a few years ago. While my tool of choice is Midjourney, there is other viable software on the market, such as DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, or others. In 2024, you don't need to be a visualization designer to create great images. Leverage AI visualization tools like Midjourney for better project results.
Prompts Are Important
Prompts are detailed instructions that are critical for the generated visuals to be aligned with your desired outcome. For example, a "beach landscape" prompt should be detailed, like "a beach landscape in the early morning with dark clouds in the sky and whitecaps on the ocean’s waves.” Midjourney also lets you mention styles, famous artists, or specific eras you want the image to resemble.
Three Examples
Article (or Blog) Images
Most people gravitate toward creating images for articles or blog posts. Many times, you don't have the right picture, and standard pictures from free sources like Pexels or Unsplash are too canned. Sometimes, just brainstorming with Midjourney through prompts yields some fresh ideas or useable images, too.
For example, I have written several articles on "forever chemicals" or contaminants of emerging concern like PFAS. There are not many sources for canned images, but brainstorming with Midjourney produced enough for what I needed.
Confidential Images
Sometimes confidentiality is a big deal for a client or a specific site. Because Midjourney works by text descriptions and not by uploaded images (go to Photoshop for that), it's easy to capture the concept of the site or project team without getting close to stepping on a non-disclosure agreement.
For example, I generated a picture of a project team inside a pharmaceutical plant as a decorative image for a report. We later used the same image for a cover slide at a conference presentation, and I tweaked it slightly for a blog post. All of this captures the essence of the project moment yet never infringes on the required confidentiality of the work.
Schematics for Facilitation
JD Solomon Inc. does considerable work in the program and major project development space. Given the early, conceptual nature of the work, sometimes I just needed some ideas to hang on the wall to stimulate thought. Being able to spin the same visual into different graphic styles (even cartoons), famous artist styles, or specific eras is one way to do this with Midjourney.
AI-Based Visualization Tools
Midjourney uses generative AI techniques to create high-quality, poignant images. Midjourney operates similarly to other image generation models like OpenAI's DALL-E and Stability AI's Stable Diffusion.
AI-based visualization tools are most helpful for creating meaningful images when I do not have one, capturing a project message while not compromising confidentiality, and facilitating creativity early in the life of programs or large projects.
Get in the Game!
Midjourney was the right visualization tool for our small company two years ago. It takes some trial and error, but you do not have to be an expert to create useable, high-quality images. Get in the game! Are you Communicating with FINESSE?
Communicating with FINESSE is the not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.
JD Solomon is the founder of JD Solomon, Inc., the creator of the FINESSE fishbone diagram, and the co-creator of the SOAP criticality method. He is the author of Communicating Reliability, Risk & Resiliency to Decision Makers: How to Get Your Boss’s Boss to Understand and Facilitating with FINESSE: A Guide to Successful Business Solutions.
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