Like many people, I'm easily influenced by design. I log off websites that don't have a smooth user experience, I choose products depending on their brand identity and I pride myself on being an advocate for companies that are just as efficient as they are beautiful.
I was researching the design studios behind creative AI brands when I found Flora, a platform that integrates artificial intelligence models into an interactive canvas, and Pentagram, a design agency that collaborated with the platform to refine its user experience and interface design.
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Flora was launched by Weber Wong, who also serves as the company's CEO, in early 2025 as an "intelligence canvas," as coined by the company. It enables people to generate, refine, implement and refine their creative output.
The platform offers free and paid models (ranging from $16–$48/month) to support its main functionality -- eliminating the need to switch between different AI chatbots, image generators and video applications and supporting a more cohesive creative process.
Since the platform aims to cater to both experienced and beginner AI enthusiasts, I wanted to explore Flora beyond its, while beautiful, literal surface-level design, and understand more about the node-based system built to save time and energy.
How to use Flora to support your creative process
A screenshot of Flora's AI design platform
Flora / Screenshot by CNET
Flora has a lot of capabilities. Here's an overview of how to navigate most of its functions.
First navigate to Flora's website and sign up for an account using your email address or log in if you already have an account.
You'll be met with a visually stimulating homepage that serves as a canvas for your creative projects.
Double-click the screen and choose from text, image or video.
Add it to the digital canvas as a "node" -- a building block specific to an AI capability. You can also click on the top of the image to learn more about each node.
Now, begin to enter a prompt or data that you'd like Flora to generate.
Some prompt examples I used (inspired by AI-native fashion styling app, Doji) include:
Text: "Create a 10-word intro highlighting an AI-powered virtual fashion stylist brand focused on intersectionality. While new, the brand is minimalistic, refined, yet has an incredibly innovative touch."
Image: "Create an abstract, surreal animated image depicting the harmony between AI and fashion."
Video: "Create a 15-second video ad for a futuristic fashion collection designed with AI. The ad should have a cinematic feel, with slow-motion shots of AI-generated garments morphing into different forms generated by pieces of the clothing itself. The lighting should be ethereal, with holographic elements subtly animating around the models. Ambient and futuristic music -- but not fantastical."
You can also connect nodes to various functions, such as an image-to-video generator, animating an image or adding prompt text as video subtitles. I found these other functionalities exciting:
Story Analysis: Flora can analyze your story and generate prompts in response.
Character Design Tool: Describe your character and Flora will generate a response that can be fed into AI image generators.
Image Analysis: Flora can analyze an existing image and provide information about its style. You can apply those results to new images or compile references and visualizations.
Flora / Screenshot by CNET
Of course, use the platform's tools to tweak and refine generated content until it fits your vision. While I'd argue this platform needs less attempts with AI-powered generation, repetition will help guide you to your final outcome.
Once satisfied, save your project in a desired format. (Standard text, image and video formats are all included. Plus, Flora offers a native file format for future editing on the platform.)
For inspiration before starting, head over to the community tab. This features dedicated libraries of techniques and workflows created by the Flora team, made for concepting, design, marketing, experimental and the moving image. Wong also created a recording as part of Flora's video library where he shares the backstory about the company and tips for using its features.
Who should use Flora AI?
While many existing -- and successful -- AI creative tools in the market are built by non-creatives for non-creatives, Flora was designed specifically for creative professionals. For writers, I would compare it to Sudowrite.
It aims to be a creative partner, which I'd offer is AI's sweet spot across industries. Flora offers true control (read: creative freedom) through its structured workflows and flexible capabilities.
Plus, its node-based system is great for playing with layers and pushing boundaries with the help of artificial intelligence, whether to create something new or solely get concepts and ideas out onto something.
Flora's UX definitely has creatives and technologists in mind, so while many types of people can benefit from its functions, its layout may not serve everyone -- it was literally inspired by non-linear creative, and sometimes chaotic, thinking.
I see Flora as a better fit for professionals than hobbyists -- especially designers and artists in graphic design, animation, fashion and multimedia storytelling. It's ideal for those who want a true blank canvas to ideate and experiment.