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Mockups, Midjourney & the Future of Product Design
Hello Friend,
Welcome back to the Generative Path, your weekly infusion of AI-powered creativity curated by ZenRobot to keep you ahead of the curve with the latest tools, trends, and techniques.
This week, we’re diving into Midjourney’s newest experimental features, spotlighting visionary Didier Quarroz who is blending branding with AI, and exploring the growing trend of AI-made product mockups. We’ve also got a fresh focus playlist and a visual challenge, so you’ve got everything you need to stay inspired and ahead of the curve. Let’s get into it!
Feature of the Week: Midjourney
Midjourney continues to push the frontier of visual creativity with smarter, faster, and more intuitive generation. With its latest advancements like enhanced stylization control, reference image consistency, and sharper upscaling it’s become more than just a tool; it’s your visual storytelling partner. Want a say in what’s next?
Head to Midjourney here, to vote on new features and help shape the platform’s future.
Prompt: Back view, long shot of a robed figure walking a sandy path through green coastal shrubs toward a misty ocean and distant mountains, moody and contemplative, Canon EOS R5, RF 24-105mm f/4L, Kodak Portra 160, soft ambient morning light, cool desaturated tones, ISO 200, 1/125, f/5.6 --ar 16:9 --q 2
Creative Hack: Midjourney’s Experimental Parameter
Want to push your prompts beyond the ordinary? Midjourney’s experimental --exp parameter is your shortcut to more daring, detailed, and imaginative results. It loosens the AI's grip on standard rendering, introducing richer textures, dramatic lighting, and compositions that surprise.
Try this: begin with a cinematic prompt, then add --exp 40 to activate experimental mode. For even more interesting outcomes, combine it with a clear artist reference or a specific material like velvet, chrome, or oil paint.
Prompt: Editorial full body photo of a model in linen
Community Spotlight: Didier Quarroz
Didier Quarroz brings over 15 years of branding experience and a forward-thinking approach to Generative AI, helping brands create distinctive, on-brand visuals with greater speed and flexibility. With a background in agencies, startups, and freelance work across Switzerland and China, he now pioneers AI’s role in visual communication.
Through his studio, DDQZ AI Creative, Didier supports companies in integrating AI-generated imagery into campaigns, brand systems, and content pipelines. Leveraging tools like MidJourney, he helps teams stay visually consistent and efficient. His work blends award-winning design with practical GenAI implementation, offering cross-cultural insight and a clear vision for creative workflows.
Prompt: A couple stands amidst dense tropical foliage in minimalistic fashion - she in a simple white slip dress, he in a lightweight beige linen shirt. Framed at eye level with an unexpected off-center composition as a palm frond cuts diagonally across the image. Close-Up Photography, shot with depth of field that renders the verdant background into creamy bokeh. Captured with a Nikon Z8, NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S lens --ar 3:4 --raw --profile vqgv9iz --v 7
This Week’s Flow State: This Is Bonobo
Explore the full spectrum of Bonobo’s sound with This Is Bonobo on Spotify. From early downtempo gems to richly layered, emotionally resonant electronica, this collection traces the evolution of an artist who’s mastered the balance between rhythm and atmosphere. Whether you’re seeking focus, flow, or simply a beautiful sonic backdrop, this playlist delivers. Press play and journey through the essence of Bonobo.
Prompt: Overhead shot, wave crashing in the ocean
AI Trend: Custom Product Mockup Designs
A new trend is reshaping how designers present their work: using MidJourney to create custom product mockups from scratch. Instead of hunting down the perfect blank template, creatives are now generating personalized mockups tailored exactly to their vision, whether it’s a tote bag, coffee cup, or streetwear hoodie.
With full control over style, angle, lighting, and setting, these AI-generated visuals offer a faster, more flexible way to showcase designs. It’s not just about placing artwork on a product anymore, it’s about designing the entire scene to match the brand, mood, and message.
Prompt: Editorial photograph, overhead flat lay, blank label skincare product on a wooden bath tray, bottle and scrub jar neatly placed with label visible, floating lemon and orange slices, jasmine flowers and soft sponge in pool water beneath, luxury spa setting, serene and refreshing ambiance, Canon EOS R5, RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, ISO 100, Shutter 1/125, Aperture f/4, diffused daylight, ambient light reflections on water, pastel tones with natural highlights, photorealistic, shallow depth of field, sharp focus on products
AI vs. Reality: Can You Tell the Difference?
This week, we’ve got a brand-new pair of images to test your perception again. Think you can tell which is AI-made and which is the real deal? Take your guess and we’ll reveal the answer in the next issue!
Last week, we kicked off our AI vs. Reality face-off with an Old Porsche 911, and now for the moment of truth, if you guessed the right one was the real deal, you got it right. This striking image captures a timeless icon, a driver's car. Fully AI-generated with ImageFX using the whisk tool. The line between reality and artificial creation is becoming increasingly blurred.
Prompt: A sharply focused photo with shallow depth of field shows a vintage off-white Porsche 911 with black trim, black bumpers, a rear spoiler, and dark wheels with polished rims. The light brown interior is visible through the windows. The car is driving on an asphalt road through a dense forest of tall, straight trees with brown bark. The road and surroundings are slightly blurred, emphasizing the car’s motion. Natural daylight with soft shadows and muted earth tones creates a calm, nostalgic mood. The shot is at eye level.
Join the Conversation! AI is constantly evolving, unlocking new creative possibilities every day. What caught your attention this week? Hit reply and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
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