Why Creatives Feel Threatened by Technology

Years ago, when Canva was first getting popular, a graphic designer I used to work with said that the software was “an insult to the craft.”

I didn't get to ask why he thought that way, but it stuck with me because over the next few years (up until today), the same kind of sentiment becomes more prevalent as new and more powerful AI-based tools keep emerging like mushrooms every day.

Throughout history, new technologies, tools, and methods were met with skepticism or outright rejection by the creative community. 

There are countless examples of this, I'm sure. Here are just three of them:

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-15th century, many scribes and illuminators who had painstakingly copied texts by hand saw it as a threat to their craft. They believed that the mass production of books would lead to a decline in the quality and artistry of written works.

“It is true, I would point out, that any new technology seems at first to have an overwhelming, often irrelevant meaning that comes from the peculiarities of its medium. When prints first appeared in the fifteenth century, they had such a different "look" that they were segregated from more traditional media.” 

— James Elkins, Art History and the Criticism of Computer-Generated Images

The same thing happened with the invention of photography in the early 19th century. Traditional painters feared that it would render their craft obsolete, as photography could capture realistic images more quickly and accurately. For many years, tension permeated between photographers and painters. Some artists dismissed photography as a mere mechanical process that lacks the creative depth of painting. 

Look at where we are now. These days, photography is recognized as a fine art.

Lastly, since we began this article talking about Canva’s impact on the digital art community, let’s see what happened when computers and digital tools first became prevalent in the late 20th century. Many traditional artists were offended. They argued that digital tools made the creative process too easy (sound familiar?) and that digital artworks lacked the tactile and material qualities of traditional media like painting and sculpture. 

Actually, this snobbishness persists even today.

Where is this fear coming from?

Yes, I’m positive that this attitude towards the "new thing" stems from fear. Fear of what? Well, let’s use the Canva situation as an example.

It makes their ‘expertise’ too accessible

Canva's primary appeal is its accessibility and affordability. It’s a popular choice for small business owners with a limited budget, social media managers, and any individual without formal design training. 

Canva opened the door to the democratization of design.

That is, in my opinion, a good thing. Canva deserves its success. They found a need, and they created a remarkable product to address that need. They empowered more people to create visually appealing content—something good enough for the medium and purpose—without extensive training. 

But, as we’ve mentioned before, some traditional digital (using ‘traditional’ and ‘digital’ next to each other speaks volumes on how far we’ve come) artists feel that this accessibility devalues their expertise, creativity, and professional design training. 

In their mind, they’re losing ‘prestige.’ 

In my mind, they’re insecure. 

They’re operating from a scarcity mindset. More on this later.

Loss of business

Many designers are worried that since Canva allows non-designers to create their own graphics, demand for professional design services will decline.

That’s almost true. 

Let me change something in that sentence to make it 100% true: demand for mediocre design will decline. 

Now it’s perfect.

Perceived professionalism and skill level

Traditional digital artists often view tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as the gold standard for professional design work, and using them is often seen as a mark of a skilled designer. 

In contrast, Canva is designed to be approachable and easy to use, which can lead to the perception that it is a tool for amateurs.

To make my point quickly, who do you think is a better photographer? The one who’s using a Sony A1 mirrorless digital camera or the one using a 4-year-old iPhone 12 Pro?

Precisely. 

If you’re good, you’re good

Great artists are tool-agnostic. They don’t care what new technology comes along. They’re too busy being good.

Sometimes, they even invent it themselves to expand their craft. 

Da Vinci experimented with new materials, including walnut and linseed oils, to create more vibrant colors and longer-lasting paints.

Jan van Eyck, a Flemish painter from the 15th century, was an early adopter of oil paints in his artwork. The new medium allowed for more precise brushwork, richer colors, and the ability to blend colors more smoothly. Van Eyck's adoption of oil paints revolutionized painting techniques and influenced countless artists.

Rembrandt was also known for his use of innovative materials and techniques. He experimented with different types of grounds (surface preparations) and pigments, including lead-white paint, which allowed for a greater range of tonal values and textures.

The greats weren’t just unthreatened by new tools, methods, and technologies. They embrace them and incorporate them into their process. They see the potential of technology to push boundaries. If a new method makes their work faster, it frees them up to explore deeper levels of sophistication and craftsmanship.

So, instead of being threatened by ChatGPT, a good writer will see its incredible value for research, organizing text, and summarizing and analyzing mountains of data. It cuts the writing process in half—perhaps more—which gives the writer more time for deep and original thinking.

Instead of being offended by Canva, a good designer will realize that he can now double or triple the number of well-designed social media content pieces he can deliver to clients. This gives him the ability to take on more work, which could translate to more income. Besides, more sophisticated tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are still needed when it comes to complicated designs.

As Robert Duvall said, “There’s always room for good...”

So, it doesn’t matter what incredible innovation comes along. It doesn’t matter how scary-good AI-generated “art” gets. And it doesn’t matter how saturated we think a market is.

If you’re good, you’re good.

And there’s always room for good.