This spring, students of Associate Professor Steve Hill at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point were given a simple but bold creative prompt: use artificial intelligence to mash up two recognizable ideas into one compelling image for a potential Edible Austin magazine cover or social media post.

What followed was a collaborative learning experience that revealed the potential of AI as a design partner, not just a tool.

Each student began by generating three to four image ideas using the AI platform of their choice. Then, in true editorial fashion, the group reviewed their concepts collectively, critiqued the strongest visuals, and refined them into final products. Their goal? To create visuals that felt fresh, smart, and aligned with Edible Austin’s commitment to celebrating the flavors, people, and visual textures of Texas.

Final Cover Concepts

Texas Funnel Cake

Created by Jenna Barwick using Microsoft Copilot and Canva

This image reimagines the beloved funnel cake—often found at county fairs—as a Texas-shaped dessert. With its crispy, golden texture, powdered sugar dusting, and a clean rustic backdrop, this design cleverly captures both state pride and culinary nostalgia. Jenna used Microsoft Copilot to generate the core image and then refined it in Canva, carefully extending the wood paneling and restoring napkin textures to maintain visual consistency. By integrating the Edible Austin logo into her final version, she created a finished product that’s both playful and publication-ready. It’s a delicious representation of how a regional concept can work across Edible Austin, Edible Houston, and Edible San Antonio editions.

Salad Dress

Created by Jordyn Olson using Canva AI and Meta AI

Inspired by a dad joke (“Why should you knock before opening the fridge? Because there might be a salad dressing”), Jordyn’s concept transformed wordplay into visual art. Her AI-generated image featured a mannequin wearing a high-fashion dress made entirely of leafy greens and veggies. After initial feedback from her team, Jordyn fine-tuned the dress details, removed uncanny mannequin arms, and enhanced background contrast to draw the eye to the quirky couture centerpiece. The result is a striking and whimsical image that could easily grace the cover of a summer issue or stand out in a social media campaign.

Apple Pie & Honeybees

Created by Caryn Brefka using Meta AI

Caryn approached the assignment by examining the relationship between ingredients and their sources. Inspired by Heinz’s iconic ketchup imagery, she explored the chain between bees and honey, and apples and pie. After testing multiple prompt variations, she generated two final concepts: an apple pie shaped like an apple, and a honeycomb image that highlighted the hardworking bees behind summer’s sweetness. The pie image required especially careful prompt crafting to avoid autumnal elements like pumpkins, eventually landing on a version that clearly conveyed “apple pie” in a summer context. These clever compositions speak to food origin stories—perfect for Edible’s mission of celebrating the makers behind the meals.

A Collaborative Creative Win

This project gave students more than just a crash course in AI. It gave them insight into collaborative feedback, iterative design, and audience-minded visual storytelling—skills they’ll carry into the creative industry.

And it proved something powerful: when guided with intention, AI can help students—and future professionals—bring fresh, visually impactful ideas to life.