A picture is worth a thousand prompts

For years, my work in learning technology has been about finding the right tools to empower creativity. I’ve seen countless platforms promise a revolution, but until I sat down with a Generative AI for the first time I didn’t realise the possibilities. My tool of choice was Adobe Firefly, and my goal was simple: create an image.

The result is the picture you see here—a stunning sunset behind King’s College. Watching it appear on my screen, created from just a few words of instruction, was my “wow” moment. It felt less like using a tool and more like conducting an orchestra.

That initial spark immediately gave way to a deeper understanding of how this could reshape instructional design. For designers, this is a game-changer.

• The End of Generic Stock Photos: We no longer have to spend hours searching for a stock image that almost fits. We can now create the exact custom graphic or illustration to match our content perfectly.
• Visualizing the Abstract: How do you visually represent complex ideas? Now, we can experiment and generate compelling visual metaphors in seconds, making difficult topics more accessible and memorable.
• Rapid Storyboarding: We can generate entire visual narratives, allowing for quicker iterations and a clearer vision before production even begins.

My first interaction with GenAI wasn’t with text, but with art. It has left me convinced that our role as learning designers is about to become far more creative. We are now architects and artists, using these incredible tools to build more engaging and visually rich learning worlds than ever before.