Brian Sykes

Brian Sykes

Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States
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About

Seasoned strategist in Branding and Marketing with almost 3 decades of experience…

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Activity

Experience

  • theBrianSykes Graphic

    theBrianSykes

    United States

  • -

    North Carolina, United States

  • -

    Southern Pines, NC

Education

  • Pensacola Christian College Graphic

    Pensacola Christian College

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    Activities and Societies: Floor Leader, Sigma Phi Delta stingrays

    • Received a BS in Communications (emphasis Commercial Art.)
    • Our graduating class was the first to use a computer through all 4-years - and the teachers were learning the software along side of us. We used Aldus Freehand, Photoshop and Pagemaker (all now owned by Adobe, though Freehand was discontinued since Adobe already had Illustrator.)
    • Magna Cum Laude.

  • -

    Activities and Societies: football, marching band, tennis, Senior Slide Show

    2 years Marching Band. 1 year football. 1 year tennis. Senior Slide Show Group.

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Marriage & Family Counselor

    Re | Engage

    - Present 2 years 1 month

    Education

    My wife and I work with small groups of married couples (4-5 couples at a time) through a 17-week Scripture-centric sessions twice a year - to improve communication, establish healthy boundaries, develop oneness in relationship and purpose as couples. The goal is improved relationships that enhance the family dynamic and improve LIFE for married couples.

Publications

  • A.I. Explore: Prompt Fundamentals. Book 1 (v 5.1)

    self-published

    DIGITAL BOOK ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/PromptFundamentals
    PRINT ON DEMAND ::: Lulu

    Delve into the exciting world of generative AI art with 'Mastering AI Prompts: Your Comprehensive Guide.' This book offers an insightful journey through the fascinating field of text-to-image platforms such as Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion. With fresh content and a completely new perspective, this guide stands out as the first book everyone should have when it comes to prompting…

    DIGITAL BOOK ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/PromptFundamentals
    PRINT ON DEMAND ::: Lulu

    Delve into the exciting world of generative AI art with 'Mastering AI Prompts: Your Comprehensive Guide.' This book offers an insightful journey through the fascinating field of text-to-image platforms such as Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion. With fresh content and a completely new perspective, this guide stands out as the first book everyone should have when it comes to prompting generative AI for image generation.

    Written by an early pioneer in the field of generative AI, this guide is the result of painstakingly revisiting the entire learning process from the ground up. It's not a minor revision, but a completely renewed and revitalized edition that introduces new insights, techniques, and ways to elevate your prompting game.

    Suitable for all levels of expertise, 'Prompt Fundamentals' is written in a clear and straightforward manner that makes it equally beneficial for beginners just starting out and experts seeking to refine their skills. Its ten lesson structure offers a step-by-step walkthrough of the fundamentals of effective Natural Language Descriptions (ie - 'prompts') to get the output desired, while also challenging the more experienced users with fresh perspectives and advanced strategies.

    By the end of the book, readers will have gained the confidence to prompt effectively across various generative AI platforms. They will not only understand the theoretical basis of AI art generation but also have the hands-on knowledge required to create intricate, evocative, and stunning AI-generated images.

    Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious newcomer, 'A.I. Explore: Prompt Fundamentals' Book 1 (v 5.1) is your key to unlocking the full potential of generative AI art.

    Note - Over 500 copies of the first edition and revision for this book have been sold.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • A.I. Explore: Snack Sized Prompts and $5 Words

    Self-Published

    ::: Digital Book ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/cgsjhg

    Discover the power of words in generative A.I. with "A.I. Explore: Snack Sized Prompts and $5 Words" - a comprehensive reference guide for A.I. creatives looking to enhance their text2art prompts. Inspired by the author's passion for vocabulary and a personal connection to the phrase "$5 words," this book dives deep into the impact of select words on prompt results.

    Inside this 336-page treasure trove, you'll…

    ::: Digital Book ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/cgsjhg

    Discover the power of words in generative A.I. with "A.I. Explore: Snack Sized Prompts and $5 Words" - a comprehensive reference guide for A.I. creatives looking to enhance their text2art prompts. Inspired by the author's passion for vocabulary and a personal connection to the phrase "$5 words," this book dives deep into the impact of select words on prompt results.

    Inside this 336-page treasure trove, you'll find:

    54 carefully chosen power words, complete with definitions and usage in a sentence

    Over 1,950 renders across various versions and styles of the generative A.I. tool Midjourney, showcasing the influence of these words on prompt outcomes (4, --style 4a & 4b, 5 and 5.1)

    Combinations with different landscapes, living things, concepts, and structures to provide a thorough understanding of each word's potential

    Whether you're an A.I. enthusiast or an experienced creative, this book will serve as an invaluable resource, offering insights into how specific word choices can shape your text-to-art prompting journey. Embrace the power of "Snack Sized Prompts and $5 Words" and elevate your A.I. creations!

    This book was a collaborative effort between Brian W. Sykes and Big Al Gruswitz. Brian had started a short series of one-word prompts that he called "A.I. Elemental" shortly after version 4 first became available. Inspired, Big Al picked up the mantle and began is own explorations. Brian reached out to Big Al with the idea of collaborating on just such a work. During the time of creation - Midjourney added styles to version 4 (4a and 4b), then version 5, and now 5.1. We decided to include the collection of renders created an develop a more comprehensive project. Brian composed the work, laid everything out in Adobe Indesign - and the rest as they say... is history.

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  • A.I. Explore: Collaborations, Book 2

    Self-published

    A.I. Explore: Education Continued - Minds Blown
    Digital Book : https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/xqufr
    Print on Demand : https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-jonathan-ijzerman-and-pratyush-sur-and-pj-way/ai-explore-collaborations-book-2/paperback/product-d9vzg4.html

    Introducing "A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 2" - the newest addition to the acclaimed series that brings together the top minds in the A.I. space. With 10 expert contributors each sharing their unique…

    A.I. Explore: Education Continued - Minds Blown
    Digital Book : https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/xqufr
    Print on Demand : https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-jonathan-ijzerman-and-pratyush-sur-and-pj-way/ai-explore-collaborations-book-2/paperback/product-d9vzg4.html

    Introducing "A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 2" - the newest addition to the acclaimed series that brings together the top minds in the A.I. space. With 10 expert contributors each sharing their unique perspective on a topic they are competent in, this book provides a diverse range of lessons that are sure to educate and inspire readers.

    Following the success of the first book in the series, "A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 2" continues the tradition of collaboration and innovation. Each contributor is an early adopter and outspoken sharer, making each an A.I. Thought Leader in their own right. With a mix of personal proficiency, good character, and established portfolios, the selected contributors bring their expertise to the table in this exciting new release.

    The 10-lesson format ensures that readers have access to a variety of topics and approaches to A.I., making the book accessible and versatile. Whether you're a beginner or an expert in the field, there's something for everyone in this comprehensive guide.

    If you're looking to expand your knowledge of A.I., gain insight into the latest trends, or simply broaden your horizons, "A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 2" is the perfect choice. Get ready to explore the cutting-edge world of A.I. with this must-read book!

    Lessons were provided by Carlos Aledo • Jon Porter • Roberto Avila • Sherry Horowitz • Big Al Gruswitz • Alexandra Brillembourg • Carlos Garavito • PJ Way • Pratyush Sur • and Brian Sykes

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  • A.I. Explore: Collaborations, Book 1

    Self-published

    Digital Book : https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/tzjjw
    Print On Demand : https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-margarida-barreto-and-travis-hinkle-and-amr-tahtawi/ai-explore-collaborations-book-1/paperback/product-pp26ed.html

    Welcome to “A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 1”. This book launches my A.I. Explore: Collaborations series that was started as a daily exercise of exploring A.I. text-to-image generators for myself and sharing what I discovered via my personal profile on…

    Digital Book : https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/tzjjw
    Print On Demand : https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-margarida-barreto-and-travis-hinkle-and-amr-tahtawi/ai-explore-collaborations-book-1/paperback/product-pp26ed.html

    Welcome to “A.I. Explore: Collaborations - Book 1”. This book launches my A.I. Explore: Collaborations series that was started as a daily exercise of exploring A.I. text-to-image generators for myself and sharing what I discovered via my personal profile on LinkedIn.

    How did this come about?
    This book started as an idea: the creation of compilation books written together with other A.I. creators, where each A.I. Explorer provides one lesson on a topic they are competent with and for which they would like to be known. Each of the contributors in this book and those that follow, are early adopters and outspoken sharers, making each an A.I. Thought Leader. I am super pleased to introduce each of them to you.

    At the outset, I determined to stay true to the 10-lesson format as I had used in the first 2 books created. That meant each book in the collaboration series would have 10 contributors (of which I would produce 1 lesson, and have 9 additional contributed lessons included.)

    The one-lesson-per-contributor format allows for:
    • a diverse range of topics to be covered in a single book.
    • inclusion of multiple perspectives and approaches to a topic.
    • greater accessibility and versatility
    • more flexibility in terms of the length and format of each lesson

    Contributors / Lessons:
    Jonathan IJzerman: Using GPT for Generative A.I. Art
    Matt Garbutt: Astrographics & Space Exploration
    JnGospel Ebere: Industrial Design + Personal Style
    Ben Currier: Midjourney as a Slot Machine
    Nejc Sušec: A.I. in Visual Communication
    Dennis Ascienzo: Commercial Application of AI
    Amr Tahtawi: Creative Visual Storytelling
    Travis Hinkle: Reverse Storytelling: Visual Inspiration for Writers
    Margarida Barreto: Shake That Bunny
    Brian Sykes: Candid Portrait by a Painting

    Other authors
    See publication

  • A.I. Explore: Tips, Tricks & Rules to Break, Book 2

    Self-Published

    DIGITAL EDITION ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/uzcmh
    PRINT ON DEMAND ::: https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-brian-sykes-and-trish-sykes/ai-explore-tips-tricks-rules-to-break/paperback/product-g775nn.html

    In A.I. Explore: Tips, Tricks & Rules to Break, Brian Sykes continues his popular series with 10 lessons on mastering A.I. text2img generators like Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion (Special emphasis is placed on Midjourney). Book was written for Midjourney…

    DIGITAL EDITION ::: https://brianwsykes.gumroad.com/l/uzcmh
    PRINT ON DEMAND ::: https://www.lulu.com/shop/brian-sykes-and-brian-sykes-and-trish-sykes/ai-explore-tips-tricks-rules-to-break/paperback/product-g775nn.html

    In A.I. Explore: Tips, Tricks & Rules to Break, Brian Sykes continues his popular series with 10 lessons on mastering A.I. text2img generators like Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion (Special emphasis is placed on Midjourney). Book was written for Midjourney V.4

    With clear explanations and practical examples, I will show readers how to get the most out of these powerful tools. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user of A.I., this book is sure to have something for you. Learn tips and tricks to creating stunning visual content, discover new ways to use these generators in your work, and push the boundaries of what's possible with A.I. technology. Don't miss this next step in A.I. Exploration with this essential guide for anyone looking to take their A.I. skills to the next level!

    Lessons include:
    Punctuation in Prompting
    Weighting Text Prompts
    Fine-Tuned Weighting
    The Power of “No”
    Mad Magazine + Star Wars
    Realism Applied to Characters
    Style Preferences: Quality Parameter
    Adding Adjectives
    “Punk” Styles + Motorcycles
    Color Palettes

    Other authors
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Projects

  • Design Pods

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    The idea for Design Pods had been ruminating in my head since college. Design Pods brings students from multiple, diverse categories of study and puts them into a situation that requires collaboration of thought and effort to solve them. As Director of Marketing at Meridian, I enjoined Meridian to Sandhills Community College and developed a Self-Service Solution effort where the students were directed to discover a need that could be addressed with self-service; then develop a functioning…

    The idea for Design Pods had been ruminating in my head since college. Design Pods brings students from multiple, diverse categories of study and puts them into a situation that requires collaboration of thought and effort to solve them. As Director of Marketing at Meridian, I enjoined Meridian to Sandhills Community College and developed a Self-Service Solution effort where the students were directed to discover a need that could be addressed with self-service; then develop a functioning solution. We are set to reveal a completed kiosk for the college with way-finding, career directing, etc. A great experience, challenging for the student who participated, but phenomenal opportunity. I could see this implemented in colleges across America as a practicum to study for teaching collaboration and becoming an internship with real results. The growth of the students involved has been both rewarding and promising.

    Other creators
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Organizations

  • HeadSpace Branding

    Founder

    - Present

    HeadSpace Branding provides clarity to business leadership for brand transformation - solving complex business problems through Brand Strategy, Identity & Marketing.

  • theBrianSykes

    Founder

    - Present

    Where 23 Years of Creative Experience Meets Cutting‐Edge AI. Unlock Smarter, More Innovative Workflows—with AI. I’ve led the charge in adopting AI within the creative industry. Now, I’ll help you harness its power for faster, more innovative branding and campaigns—without burning out. Empowering creative professionals and agencies worldwide to seamlessly integrate AI—streamlining their workflows, elevating their branding, and future-proofing their business. I don’t follow AI trends – I set…

    Where 23 Years of Creative Experience Meets Cutting‐Edge AI. Unlock Smarter, More Innovative Workflows—with AI. I’ve led the charge in adopting AI within the creative industry. Now, I’ll help you harness its power for faster, more innovative branding and campaigns—without burning out. Empowering creative professionals and agencies worldwide to seamlessly integrate AI—streamlining their workflows, elevating their branding, and future-proofing their business. I don’t follow AI trends – I set them. AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s reshaping how we create, collaborate, and communicate. I’ve been at the forefront of this transformation, blending two decades of hands‐on branding experience with cutting‐edge AI solutions. The result? A proven roadmap that empowers creative professionals and agencies to work smarter, innovate faster, and leave the competition trailing behind. 1 • Tailored AI Consulting: Elevate your creative process with custom AI solutions designed around your unique brand goals. From strategy to implementation, I’ll guide you step by step so you can innovate confidently and deliver standout results. 2 • Educational Workshops & Training: Unlock your team’s full potential with workshops designed to demystify AI and integrate it into everyday workflows. Whether you’re a small design studio or a global agency, we’ll equip you with the know‐how to stay ahead of the curve. 3 • Real-World Success Stories: See how agencies and creatives have transformed their branding, content, and campaign processes through my proven AI frameworks. Discover real results—and get inspired by what’s possible for you.

  • AdJourney

    Owner / CCO

    -

    Started AdJourney with the idea of providing clear communication and creative support to businesses. First client was Sandhills Pediatrics - with a logo redesign and supporting marketing material. 20 years and hundreds of projects later, the business is going strong and growing.

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