Pomelli vs. Traditional Design Tools: Which to Use When?

Introduction

The arrival of Google Pomelli has sparked debate among business owners and creative professionals: should you trust AI automation for your marketing, or stick with proven design platforms like Canva, Adobe Express, and Figma? Both approaches have their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. Here’s an in-depth look at when to use Pomelli for rapid marketing campaigns, and when traditional tools deliver the creative edge your brand demands.​

What is Google Pomelli?

Google Pomelli is a new AI-powered marketing assistant from Google Labs and DeepMind. It analyzes your website to extract your brand’s “Business DNA,” then uses AI to generate copy and visual assets for campaigns, social media, emails, and ads—all designed to match your unique voice and style.​

What Are Traditional Design Tools?

Industry favorites like Canva, Adobe Express, and Figma offer hands-on design environments. They provide massive template libraries, drag-and-drop customization, vector editing, and advanced layout controls. These tools rely on human expertise for creativity, but offer near-limitless possibilities for polished, tailored designs.​

Head-to-Head Comparison

When to Use Pomelli

Best For:

• Routine marketing campaigns needing fast execution (social media, bulk emails, ads)​

• Entrepreneurs or SMBs without established brand guidelines​

• Businesses seeking consistent messaging across diverse touchpoints

• Non-designers wanting to launch campaigns in minutes with zero learning curve

Advantages:

• Rapid asset creation—most users create a full campaign in under 30 minutes

• Automatic brand consistency—Pomelli’s Business DNA ensures all content reinforces your identity

• Integrated copy and visuals—no juggling between separate AI writing and design tools

• Free during beta​

Limitations:

• Visual customization is limited—can’t perfect layouts or add complex design features

• Doesn’t support intricate design projects, infographics, or advanced animation

• Output depends on quality of your website’s branding​

When to Use Traditional Design Tools

Best For:

• Flagship, high-impact campaigns or brand launches

• Businesses with formalized brand guidelines and visual assets​

• Designers seeking granular control over every pixel, effect, and layout

• Creating complex assets (infographics, multi-page brochures, advanced video)

Advantages:

• Customization—control fonts, colors, layout, effects, and export formats

• Flexible asset creation—design anything from business cards to interactive presentations

• Collaboration features—teams can work together live in Figma/Adobe

• Suitable for pro designers and creative agencies​

Limitations:

• Manual enforcement of brand consistency is needed across assets​

• Learning curve for advanced features and pro-level design​

• Time-consuming bulk campaign creation for non-designers

Hybrid Workflows: Getting the Best of Both Worlds

Many marketers use a blended approach:

• Start with Pomelli to generate campaign copy and initial visual drafts

• Import assets to Canva, Adobe, or Figma for refined edits, custom graphics, and print-ready layouts

• Combine AI speed with manual quality for efficient, impactful marketing​

Real-World Example

A fitness startup uses Pomelli for rapid email/social asset generation, then refines visuals in Canva for sponsored events and influencer collaborations. This hybrid workflow saves 30-40% of campaign prep time while ensuring top-tier visuals for high-stakes launches.​

Conclusion

Pomelli and traditional design tools both have a place in the modern marketing toolkit. For day-to-day campaigns, bulk content, and rapid execution, Pomelli’s AI automation delivers huge time and consistency gains—especially for small businesses. For creative projects demanding detailed control and brand-defining wow factor, traditional tools like Canva, Adobe, and Figma remain essential. Smart businesses and agencies will adopt both, customizing their approach based on project goals and available resources.

Related post: Pomelli for Agencies: Friend or Foe?