{"id":48477,"date":"2025-07-14T13:43:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=48477"},"modified":"2025-07-14T13:43:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:43:49","slug":"the-iconfactory-vs-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/14\/the-iconfactory-vs-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"The Iconfactory vs. AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sean Heber<\/a>:<\/p>\n

ChatGPT and other AI services are basically killing @Iconfactory and I’m not exaggerating or being hyperbolical.<\/p>

First Twitter\/Elon killed our main app revenue that kept the lights on around here, then generative AI exploded to land a final blow to design revenue.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Pieter Omvlee<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

They’ve been such a staple of the Mac indie scene that I can’t imagine them going away. At Sketch we do all our design in-house but if we weren’t, they’d have been the first at who’s doors I’d be knocking.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

I would have assumed they’d be booked solid this summer, with all the design work necessitated by Apple’s announcement of Liquid Glass. I’m sorry to hear that’s not the case. If you need your icons refreshed for the 26 cycle, here’s your chance to work with some of the best designers in the business.<\/p>\n\n

Eric Schwarz<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

I think what’s especially disheartening and frustrating is that AI-generated “design” is taking over and seen by bean counters as “good enough” even though it lacks humanity and skill. Anyone with an eye for detail will notice flaws or an uncanniness, no matter how “perfect” it is.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Christian Tietze<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In preparation of macOS Tahoe, is a design resistance movement on the horizon?<\/p>

Like, I don’t want to be part of the “icon jail evasion. Can we play within the jail?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n