April 29, 2025

Try It, Don't Rely on It: The 8 Pieces of Karen X. Cheng's AI Creative Model

By  
Eliott Wahba

Few creative leaders understand how to integrate AI into their work like Eliott Wahba, CEO of DolFinContent. It's not just about being skilled with AI tools—it’s about knowing when to lean into AI and when to step back.

At DolFinContent’s Infinite Canvas Summit, Eliott shared insights on AI’s role in creativity, revealing a flexible, balanced model that artists and brands alike can apply.

Let's explore his approach.

8 Principles of Eliott Wahba’s Creative AI Model

1. Connecting Personal Ideas to Client Goals

Rather than siloing personal creativity from commercial work, Eliott believes that the two can—and should—intersect.

"Every personal project is a future building block for client work. I think like a matchmaker between what inspires me and what clients need most."
Eliott Wahba

When a brand approaches DolFinContent, the team doesn’t simply react to briefs. They actively match personal innovations with the brand’s objectives, resulting in content that's bold yet aligned.

If a creative idea doesn’t perfectly match the brand’s checklist?
No problem. DolFinContent often delivers two assets: one that fulfills brand requirements exactly, and another that pushes creative boundaries.

2. Embracing Iterative Experimentation

AI workflows aren’t plug-and-play. According to Eliott, working with AI is like running constant chemistry experiments.

You blend different variables. You wait. You observe the reactions.
You refine and test again.

"It’s not about perfecting the first draft. It’s about designing a process that welcomes failure and uses it to sharpen the final result."
Eliott Wahba

This iterative mindset is the reason DolFinContent's AI-powered campaigns feel polished yet organic.

3. Merging Real-World Assets with AI

Eliott stresses that the most resonant creative work combines real-world elements with AI enhancements—not pure prompt generation.

"If all you do is type into a box, your work might lack soul. Infusing personal materials—photos, sketches, textures—creates emotional authenticity AI alone can't replicate."
Eliott Wahba

For example, using original artwork instead of stock images ensures that even AI-enhanced outputs feel personal and intentional.

4. Rediscovering Physical Creativity

In an industry obsessed with screens, Eliott champions "analog Saturdays"—a day without screens, a return to tangible creation.

"There's a different kind of magic when your hands touch the medium directly. It rejuvenates creativity and fuels fresher digital ideas afterward."
Eliott Wahba

Polaroid photography, painting, sculpture—all of these physical arts replenish the imagination AI alone cannot replace.

5. Navigating Client Expectations Thoughtfully

Clients often have rigid goals. But Eliott sees this not as a restriction—but as an opportunity.

"The first thing I ask is: 'What does success look like to you?' If I understand that, I can align creativity and strategy, not sacrifice one for the other."
Eliott Wahba

Sometimes success means maximizing reach. Sometimes it means emotional impact.
Knowing the difference shapes the creative approach from the start.

6. Fighting Against Low-Effort Content

Digital platforms increasingly reward "easy wins"—fast, low-effort content that prioritizes quantity over quality.
DolFinContent refuses to play that game.

"Our job isn’t just to make content faster. It’s to make work that matters. Impact beats impressions every time."
Eliott Wahba

That’s why DolFinContent champions high-effort creative: thoughtful, layered, and deeply human.

7. Deep Commitment to True AI Collaboration

Unlike casual users, DolFinContent approaches AI as a collaborator—not a shortcut.

"Good enough is never good enough. We test, reframe, reimagine. We don’t settle after the first iteration."
Eliott Wahba

Whether it’s working with animation models or testing how an AI interprets real-world video footage, DolFinContent’s projects are backed by dozens—sometimes hundreds—of small experiments behind the scenes.

This willingness to dive deep separates casual AI use from truly creative mastery.

8. AI for Amplification, Not Replacement

Finally, Eliott is crystal clear about AI’s role:
It’s a megaphone, not a mouthpiece.

"AI can't invent genuine insight. It can’t replace lived experience or emotional storytelling. Human vision guides AI. Not the other way around."
Eliott Wahba

At DolFinContent, every AI project still starts with a human: a strategist, a designer, a storyteller. AI steps in to enhance, never to override.

Try Bold Things, But Don’t Lose the Human Touch

DolFinContent’s framework serves as a compass for artists, brands, and marketers eager to integrate AI without losing their creative soul.

The truth?
In a world flooded with fast, AI-driven noise, it’s the human element that will always stand out.

If you're ready to unlock the potential of AI-enhanced creativity, while staying true to your brand’s humanity—

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