I wasn’t anti-AI,” she says, “but I was cautious. I didn’t want anything to dilute my creativity or muddy the ethics behind my work. The Bootcamp helped me see how these tools can actually support a low-impact, thoughtful design process.”

Adapting creativity for a digital future

Based in Devon, Holly runs Lead Creative remotely, partnering with organisations across the UK on branding, illustration and communication projects with a strong environmental and social focus. Her work champions clarity, colour, and purposeful design thinking – something she carried with her into the Bootcamp.

“I realised very quickly that AI isn’t replacing craft – it’s extending it. These tools have become ‘super tools’ that complement my technical skills and help me design more efficiently, more transparently, and sometimes even more sustainably.”

Throughout the nine-week programme, Holly explored tools including ChatGPT, CoPilot, Zapier and AI integrations inside Adobe and Figma. She experimented with lightweight AI models, carbon-aware workflows, transparency notes and ways to embed ethical decision-making into her digital processes.

Balancing full-time client work, a busy family life, and the course was no small ask – but she completed it with a capstone project that explored real, practical ways designers can use AI without losing their creative integrity.

“I’m genuinely proud of sticking with it. It pushed me – in a good way – and I’ve come out of it with ideas and systems I’ll keep refining over time.”

Learning from others in a supportive space

A standout element for Holly was the learning environment itself.

“Our cohort was small, which I loved. It meant we actually got to know each other, share our frustrations, and celebrate the breakthroughs. The conversations were honest and grounded.”

Cosmic’s Bootcamp emphasises collaboration, experimentation and real-world application – an approach Holly found refreshing.

“Matt, our tutor, was brilliant. Calm, knowledgeable and incredibly patient. He created space for us to explore AI in a way that made sense for our own businesses. I hope our capstone projects reflected how much we learned.”

Building creative confidence with AI

For Holly, integrating AI isn’t about producing more – it’s about producing better. More intentional. More transparent. More balanced with the realities of digital impact.

Her capstone explored how creatives can evaluate carbon impact, choose lower-energy AI models where possible, and maintain human oversight inside automated workflows – a direction she’s continuing to evolve.

“This Bootcamp has genuinely boosted my confidence with AI tools. I’ve looked forward to the sessions every week. I’ll actually miss it!”

Learn more about the AI Skills Bootcamp

Cosmic’s AI Skills Bootcamp is designed for business owners, freelancers and digital professionals who want to gain confidence and clarity with emerging tools. Whether you’re a designer, a copywriter, a marketer or a manager, we help you find ways to integrate AI into your real-world workflow, not replace it.

Would you like to explore how AI could support your creativity?
Join our next cohorts in January 2026  

If you’re a designer wondering how to use AI without losing your creative edge, Holly’s story is proof: AI for designers isn’t about shortcuts – it’s about expanding what’s possible.