How a Kenyan creator let AI become a real creative partner
Creative work looks like magic from the outside. Behind it: moodboards, sourcing, layouts, vendors, styling, client alignment. That planning load can drain your best ideas before they hit the room.
Kenyan creator and mobile bar founder Tara Nicole tested Gemini to lighten the planning and keep the spark. She didn't give up intuition. She used AI to make decisions faster, share vision earlier, and create with her audience-not just for them.
From a feeling to a moodboard you can share
Tara started with a single goal: capture the holiday feeling-warmth, confidence, celebration-without styling full outfits. She opened Gemini and used one clear prompt:
"Create hyper-stylized festive images in cozy luxury, holiday glam, and safari chic that are bold, warm, and inspiring."
Seconds later, she had studio-grade visuals with lighting, texture, and mood. The win wasn't just speed. She shared the exact prompt with her audience so they could create their own versions. Inspiration became collaborative instead of distant.
Making concepts real before spending a shilling
Events need to feel effortless. That takes precision. Tara used Gemini's video generation to pre-visualize mobile bar setups, align clients, and reduce planning anxiety.
Her prompt: "Create a festive mobile bar setup with warm golden tones, string lights, citrus accents, and a soft celebratory feel."
Seeing the concept early moved ideas out of her head and into a format clients could instantly get. It felt like having a creative director on call: polished visuals, styling notes, clear mood direction-before sourcing a single prop.
Different creators. Same tool. Completely different outcomes.
Others in the #CreateTheSeason campaign took the same approach in their own way. Adam used Gemini for deep trip research across multiple stops. Sharon and Eli built AI-inspired moodboards and translated them into camera-ready outfits. AI didn't replace their taste-it widened the canvas.
The practical playbook for creatives
Use these steps to turn AI into a partner-not a crutch.
- Lead with feeling words. Tell AI how it should feel, not just what it is. Warm, confident, intimate, editorial, tactile.
- Add constraints. Color, texture, lighting, materials, budget range, location. Constraints create better options.
- Share your prompt. Post it to your audience or team. Co-creation lifts engagement and gives you real data on taste.
- Version fast. Ask for 3-5 variations. Keep the best, tweak the next round. Treat it like a live moodboard.
- Lock early decisions. Confirm palette, props, and layout before you buy or book. Saves time and money.
- Keep your gut as the final edit. AI proposes. You choose.
Copy-ready prompt templates
- Holiday fashion moodboard: "Create editorial holiday looks in [style 1], [style 2], and [style 3] with [color palette], [fabric textures], and [lighting mood]. Aim for [feeling words]."
- Event concept preview: "Visualize a [venue type] setup for [occasion] using [primary colors], [key materials], [lighting], and [hero accents]. Include wide, medium, and detail shots."
- Product shoot plan: "Generate a tabletop shoot for [product] with [backdrop], [props], [light direction], and [tone]. Add 5 styling notes and a simple shot list."
- Content storyboard: "Create a 6-scene vertical video storyboard for [theme] with shot framing, transitions, on-screen text, and music cues. Keep it [mood]."
Creative guardrails that help AI help you
- Context beats keywords. Add audience, platform, budget, and deadline.
- Reference real pieces. "Think: citrus accents, brass details, matte black glassware." Concrete wins.
- One change at a time. Ask for small edits to see what actually improves the output.
- Feedback loop. "Too busy. Reduce props by 30%, keep the golden tones, increase negative space."
What changed for Tara
Planning got lighter. Communication got clearer. Clients aligned faster. And there was more room for magic-the part you can't fake.
If you want to experiment, try Gemini with one of the templates above. For deeper practice with prompts and creative workflows, explore these prompt-focused resources.
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