# Build Your First...Cake Design (with AI)

*How to rethink the way you use AI to get inspired to try something new that's a little outside your comfort zone*

By [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz) · 2025-07-21

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Getting AI-nspired
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A lot of people assume that using AI means pulling back on your own creativity, or artist pursuits. But I've found the exact opposite to be true, particularly when I'm attempting something brand new for the very first time.

Here's a basic example of my AI-to-human creative workflow in action, and how you can try it for your own problem thinking too.

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### The Problem: Have 3 year old. Need ladybug cake.

This week, my youngest daughter turns three years old. She requested a ladybug and butterfly themed party. But...I had a busy week and no time to fetch a pre-designed caked ahead of time.

Over the weekend, a friend suggested that I visit the local grocery store and stock up on supplies to decorate a pre-made sheet cake myself.

When I got home, I took a long look at this blank sheet cake and panicked.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/af065a4d57aa254b06bc9b9de8a3aa03.jpg)

  

The string of "first timer" thoughts went through my head:

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### The Solution: Ask AI to help me design the cake

What a perfect use case for AI.

I immediately turned to ChatGPT and presented the problem statement, sharing both my cake, my decorating colors, and my goals.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/8aa244e316f493fda3f99e007d471015.jpg)

Here's what I got back:

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/94ff843138e8ded8b6a6a944d1f2f152.jpg)

Image source: ChatGPT

What I loved about his particular use case was that it took my exact cake and then enhanced it. I was able to see how the proportions might line up, and a _practical_ first try as a cake decorator.

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### The Result: One decorated cake. One happy ladybug birthday girl.

I got straight to work.

Here's how my (actual) cake turned out.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/cea416fd341af151ce4ed5290b6f0723.jpg)

  

The birthday girl seemed pretty happy too.

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/bea03fc811221ef2955d08cc72b90772.jpg)

Image source: ChatGPT

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Applied AI: Thinking in Workflows
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You can apply this AI-inspired workflow for personal and professional tasks. Consider the number of times when you have food in your fridge but don't know what to make for dinner, or a product in market with a launch plan prepped, but no Go-to-Market strategy.

When you get in the habit of **_sharing the ideating_** with AI as a reflexive co-creator or companion, you start to unlock not only speed, but genuinely new approaches to solve problems in your life (no matter how small.)

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    Want to get better at building with AI? Join me for an upcoming workshop for Build First Academy, my AI training and workshop business that shows anyone can be a builder. Learn more at buildfirst.ai   

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/0185f1302e6d6744a03cbcba88326354.jpg)

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*Originally published on [Hard Mode First](https://hardmodefirst.xyz/build-your-firstcake-design-with-ai)*