How we used AI to create our Christmas visuals

AI has come a long way since we first experimented with DALL·E for our Christmas card back in 2022. Fast forward to 2024, and the capabilities of AI tools have expanded exponentially, with the rise of advanced text-to-video technology and more sophisticated image generation. At The Brand Pool, we’ve been exploring these innovations not just to keep up with trends but to actively enhance our creative workflows as an agency.

AI as a collaborative creative tool

We see AI as a partner, not a replacement. It’s a tool that enhances human creativity, allowing us to focus on strategy, ideas, and storytelling while streamlining repetitive or time-intensive tasks. Importantly, we approach AI with a clear sense of ethics—always respecting our clients, their data, and ensuring the creative process remains authentic to their vision.

This year’s Christmas campaign gave us the perfect opportunity to put these principles into practice and push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.

Making AI Santa

We wanted to create a virtual Santa that felt unique to The Brand Pool while showcasing how AI can generate high-quality, engaging content. Here’s how we did it:

1. Scriptwriting with ChatGPT

ChatGPT helped us craft a warm and festive script for AI Santa, keeping the tone aligned with our branding and messaging.
The result? A message that felt fun and creative, perfect for Christmas.

2. Santa’s Look: MidJourney

Using MidJourney, we generated a branded purple Santa that felt distinctly “The Brand Pool.”
Prompt used: A futuristic, branded Santa in purple tones, with soft lighting and a festive background. Volumetric lighting, professional photography style.

3. AI Video Creation: HeyGen

We brought Santa to life by combining the generated image with the script in HeyGen.
The platform allowed us to select and adjust an AI voice that complemented Santa’s visual, resulting in a cohesive, polished final product.

This process showcases the potential for AI-generated content to create instructional videos, educational tips, or even proof-of-concept ideas in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.

Making our snow globe

For our snow globe, we wanted to merge festive cheer with a visual representation of the work we do. By combining AI tools and traditional design software, we created a unique, branded visual. Here’s the workflow:

1. Idea Generation with ChatGPT

ChatGPT helped brainstorm how to represent our projects within a snow globe. The concept of using outdoor placements and miniature objects emerged as the perfect way to showcase our 2024 work.

2. Asset Creation in MidJourney

Using prompts, we generated two key visuals:
- Snow Globe Base:
  Product photography of a minimal snow globe with nothing in the globe. Purple and orange colours. Plain background. Volumetric lighting.
- Tilt-Shift Town:
  Tilt shift photo of Australian city with blank billboards and ad spaces. Snowing and festive.
We used MidJourney’s “image blend” feature to combine these elements.

3. Compositing in Photoshop

The assets were refined in Photoshop, where generative fill was used to expand the image and ensure every detail felt seamless and polished.

4. Animation in After Effects

To bring the snow globe to life, we added footage from our 2024 campaigns inside the globe, along with dynamic snow and lighting effects.

5. Music Track Creation

Using media.io, we generated a calm and festive instrumental backing track with the prompt: “A calm and quiet instrumental Christmas backing track.”

Real-world applications of AI in creative work

These projects aren’t just about creating stunning visuals—they demonstrate how AI can revolutionise creative workflows:

Time Efficiency: AI reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on strategic, high-impact ideas.
Cost Effectiveness: From ideation to execution, AI tools enable the creation of complex content without the need for large-scale production budgets.
Cross-Medium Consistency: By directing AI tools across mediums—text, image, video, and music—we’re able to deliver cohesive, high-quality content that aligns with brand goals.
Proof of Concept: AI-powered prototypes allow us to quickly explore creative ideas, bringing them to life as polished visuals or interactive assets before committing to full-scale production.

Looking ahead

This year’s Christmas visuals highlight how AI can amplify creativity rather than replace it. By leveraging cutting-edge tools alongside our own ingenuity, we’re able to streamline workflows, unlock new ideas, and push creative boundaries—all while staying true to the heart of our work.

As we look to 2025, we’re excited to continue exploring the possibilities of AI in branding, behaviour change, and storytelling—always with a focus on collaboration, ethics, and exceptional results.

If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of AI and bring bold, creative solutions to life, let’s chat. Reach out to The Brand Pool—we’d love to collaborate with you.