AI Meets Imagination: My Journey with Creative Tech
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
By Michelle Mitchell | DigitalDiva
I never set out to become an “AI creative.” I didn’t grow up coding in my bedroom or dreaming in data streams. I started as a storyteller—first a blogger, then a culture writer, always someone who felt deeply about words, community, and how we show up in the world.
But somewhere between the closing of once-vibrant digital magazines I wrote for and the rising tide of emerging tech, I realized: if I wanted my stories—and those of women like me—to live, I had to evolve.
So, I leaned in. I let curiosity guide me.
That’s when the magic started.
From Blog Posts to Branded Dreams
When I first discovered AI tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, and Descript, I wasn’t thinking about becoming a “techie.” I was simply looking for ways to bring my ideas to life without having to wait for a team or budget.
I taught myself how to use prompts to generate images that looked like the visions I saw in my mind—Black women as celestial healers, futuristic street fashion dripping in gold, spiritual symbolism reimagined through digital color.
Using Midjourney, I could render a goddess in purple light one day and a cyberpunk brunch scene the next. With DALL·E, I illustrated stories I didn’t have the camera equipment to shoot. Descript gave me the power to edit audio and video like a pro—even without film school.
And just like that, I was no longer waiting for permission to create. I was producing.
Creativity, Community & Culture
That shift wasn’t just about aesthetic. It was about access.
As the founder of CelebrateSocializeExplore.life, a digital lifestyle magazine, and a voice behind the new DigitalDiva Substack, I use these tools not just for art—but for impact.
AI has helped me brand events, create social campaigns, build mood boards for Black women-owned businesses, and bring spirituality into design in ways I never could before. I’ve made custom visuals for wellness spaces, culturally rooted creative series, and even mini-documentaries using AI-assisted editing.
And yes, I’ve done it all without a big team, budget, or tech background—because that’s what creative technology makes possible when it’s in the right hands.
For the Creators Just Getting Started
If you’re new to AI tools, here’s what I’ll say: don’t be intimidated—be intentional.
Start with one tool. Don’t try to master them all at once. Want to create social content? Try Canva’s AI image generator or Pictory for auto-editing your video clips. Need visual assets for your brand? Dip into DALL·E or Leonardo.ai for stunning digital art. Looking to edit a podcast or reel? Descript will clean it up beautifully and even transcribe your content.
The trick isn’t in being perfect—it’s in being playful. Ask yourself: what story am I trying to tell? Then let the tech help shape it.
Owning Our Place in the Future
I’ve hosted brunches for Black women entrepreneurs, sat in rooms where our presence is still the “first” or “only,” and mentored creatives unsure of where they fit into this new digital era. I tell them what I’ll tell you:
You belong in this space.
AI isn’t just about algorithms or efficiency—it’s about expression, empowerment, and expansion. It’s about unlocking what’s already in you and amplifying it through the tools of the future.
We are no longer just consumers of media—we’re architects of the new creative economy. And for women of color? That’s revolutionary.
So here I am. A storyteller turned digital visionary. A woman using code and color to build worlds she once only dreamed of. And this? This is just the beginning.
Michelle Mitchell is an AI creative, publisher, and the visionary behind CelebrateSocializeExplore.life and known on substack as DigitalDiva. She blends spirituality, culture, and tech to help underrepresented creatives own their narrative and build bold digital futures.
You can read more on Michelle and her Ai tips on her Substack https://substack.com/@msmitchell357
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