PSA: A conversation with a graphic designer at a coffee shop in Portland

She said her main client just cut her monthly retainer by 80% because they're using an AI tool for 'good enough' social media graphics now. It wasn't a big tech firm, just a local brewery. Anyone else seeing this hit smaller creative jobs first?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivanbell2mo ago

An 80% cut is basically just firing her with extra steps. That's brutal.

samk772mo ago

Oof, I've taken a pay cut before but that's just a slow-motion axing... I'd rather get the bad news all at once.

blair_nguyen1mo ago

Honestly, have you noticed how companies do stuff like this to avoid looking bad? Tbh it's like they want you to quit so they don't have to say they fired you. I see it with worse schedules or taking away small perks, too. It's all just a way to push people out without the paperwork.