Flodesk Studio Is Here…and As a Brand Designer, I’m Kind of Obsessed
I must confess… when I hear the words “AI design tool,” my designer brain immediately gets a little…itchy. There are a bajillion AI tools out there that hold empty promises with designs, and end up producing the same look over and over again.
Sometimes Cute? Maybe.
On brand? Not usually.
As someone who literally spends her days building brands and websites, I’m pretty protective of good design. Your business shouldn’t look like everyone else’s, and your emails definitely shouldn’t either.
So when Flodesk Studio was announced, I was excited…but also a little skeptical. Because tbh I have been at my wits’ end with AI designs. BUT I am guilty of looking into them all because if it can make my life as a mom of 4 running this design studio solo I will use it!
BUT honestly? It completely surprised me.
If you’re new around here, hi! 👋 I’m a branding and website designer, and I’ve also been a Flodesk Partner for years because I genuinely love the platform. It’s the ONLY email marketing platform I recommend to clients because it’s approachable, but also allows email marketing to be creative and fun.
Flodesk Studio feels like the next evolution of that.
So…What Is Flodesk Studio?
Think of Flodesk Studio as your creative space for designing emails. And before you’re over here like NOPE, I can’t do email marketing because it’s too hard to write an email, let alone design it. TBH same.
SO, instead of opening a blank email and wondering where to start, you can start with a template, a prompt, or, honestly, just the random idea bouncing around in your head.
Type in what you’re thinking. This is the part where I just literally vomit words, and a few seconds later, Studio gives you three beautifully designed email directions to choose from. AKA busy af mom approved!
Not half-finished wireframes. Not sad little placeholders. Actual polished designs. Ready to plug and chug.
From there, you make them your own.
You can refine your design through chat, drag and drop elements around, or tweak every tiny little detail until your designer heart is happy. Personally I went from dreading restarting my email list for the 10th time to having a month’s of newsletters planned/ scheduled on day one of using the studio! Dare I say I cant stop wont stop!?
Here’s What Really Excited Me
Most AI tools are all about generating something from scratch… Flodesk Studio works differently. The designs are built on a human-designed foundation. Which meannnnsss Flodesk’s design team created thousands of layouts, typography pairings, content blocks, spacing systems, color palettes, and design components.
The AI isn’t making up random designs. It’s intelligently assembling professionally designed pieces based on your prompt and your brand. And it SHOWS.
The emails don’t feel like “AI emails.” or you know those AI posters going around that make you roll your eyes.
They feel like something an actual designer had a hand in. Because one did. For that I give it 5 stars as a designer myself who want’s pretty emails but wants to spend .2 seconds designing them LOL. (thank you to the designers behind this at flodesk, I could kiss you on the lips, but I am married… so maybe a very solid high five)
It Still Feels Like Your Brand
One thing I worry about with AI is that everything starts looking the same. And girl, you know exactly what I mean.
You scroll for five minutes, and suddenly everyone has the same graphics, the same layouts, the same everything. Flodesk Studio doesn’t feel like that. Because it’s using your branding, your colors, your voice, and your content as the foundation.
It’s eliminating so many steps that slow you down when it comes to creating a newsletter with your own pizazz.
And as someone who talks about branding approximately 97% of the time…I appreciate that. Because now there’s no reason your newsletters aren’t on brand. Pop the colors in, the fonts, and get to work!
The Workflow Is Ridiculously Easy
Can I get an amen on this one?! Hopefully yes. Our time is so limited, and the more steps something has, the less I want to do it. BUT thankfully, this isn’t the case with Flodesk Studio.
Here’s basically how it works:
- Start with a prompt, template, or idea.
- Studio creates three polished design directions.
- Pick your favorite.
- Customize it however you want.
- Send it through Flodesk or export it somewhere else. (because it can connect other places too, how considerate of Flodesk!)
That’s it.
No staring at a blank canvas, wondering if your button should be blue or slightly different blue.
(I mean…you still can obsess over button colors. Nobody’s stopping you.)
One Feature I Think Is Seriously Cool
Remember, above I called Flodesk considerate, yeah, they’re doing the most to make this accessible to everyone. Because with this Studio, you aren’t locked into Flodesk to be able to use it.
Yep, you read that right.
You can design inside Studio and then export your email as HTML to other email platforms that support HTML imports, like Kit, beehiiv, Mailchimp, and others. *mind is blown*
As someone who works with businesses using all kinds of marketing tools, I love this flexibility for those who don’t want to change their platform but want to up their email marketing design game. (although I am biased and am 100000% team Flodesk)
So basically- Design here. Send wherever works best for you.
Honestly, that’s pretty cool if I do say so myself.
If You’re Already Using Flodesk…
Studio is an extension of the existing Flodesk platform. It’s a completely separate app built on new infrastructure, so the Flodesk team can innovate faster without disrupting the experience current users already love. +10 points for that one.
For now your existing Flodesk workflow isn’t changing.
Let Me Answer All the Questions I had
Let me do a lil flash question and answer for you, for the questions I know I had right off the bat.
Is Flodesk Studio free?
Yes! Studio is completely free while it’s in beta, and you don’t need to upgrade your Flodesk account to use it.
They’re using the beta period to learn and gather feedback, so pricing after beta hasn’t been announced yet. ( YAY- I will be going to TOWN with this feature until then!)
Is this just AI filling in templates?
Not exactly….. The AI isn’t creating generic designs from scratch.
It’s assembling professionally designed components created by Flodesk’s own design team based on your prompt and your brand.
That’s a very different approach, and honestly, I think it’s making a huge different for me on my end as a designer!
Can I edit my email after exporting it?
Yes! You’ll simply make your edits back inside Studio and export the updated version again.
My Final Thoughts
If you’ve followed me for a while, you already know I’m a huge Flodesk fan. Not because I’m a Flodesk Partner, but because I genuinely use and recommend the platform. (The partnership came after the obsession. 😂)
As a website and branding designer, I’m always looking for tools that make running my business easier, and having to use my brain a little less is a 10/10 for me.
Studio feels like it has found that sweet spot.
It speeds up the parts that take forever, but it doesn’t take away the creative decisions that actually matter. And honestly? I think that’s exactly how AI should be used. To assist, not replace.
If you’ve been curious, I’d absolutely recommend giving it a try while it’s free in beta.
Who knows…it might just save you from staring at a blank email for the next 45 minutes. 😉
Oh and also If you’re reading this and I just sold you on flodesk use my link to sign up!
ORR
If you’re like girlll I need a brand and website designer *slides hair behind ear* , Why hello sign me up and come stalk my website!
