How AI helps us – what “generative” design can do

02/13/2023

How can AI help improve design? Practical examples.

A.I. is neither purely evil and bad nor simply good and kind. It is a tool that can help us in the design process, facilitate processes, and create resources that we can use for other activities—in the best cases. What are these cases? We have collected a few examples for you here.

Examples of A.I. in design

Photoshop: Neural Filters

There are many AI-based tools available here with the aim of optimizing processes: automated functions vs. manual work. The new feature group in Photoshop is called “Neural Filters” (some are still in beta): various options such as face alteration based on expression, age, emotion, skin texture, makeup, or landscape blending or image restoration, and many more. We have tested them. As of today, they do not yet work smoothly enough for professional use. Currently, they are a gimmick, but there is room for improvement.

https://blog.adobe.com/de/publish/2020/10/20/2020-10-photoshop-weltweit-fortschrittlich-ai-kuenstliche-intelligenz(German-language link)

Fälschung versus Wahrheit: welches ist das richtige Gebäude von DRIVE? Wir können es kaum noch auseinanderhalten :)

Packaging Design: Nutella Unica

“Nutella Unica”: 7 million unique = customized labels were sold in Italy. All were developed using an algorithm in the HP Smartstream Mosaic application software.

https://www.print.de/news-de/wirtschaft/nutella-unica-sieben-millionen-einzelstuecke-dank-hp-mosaic-algorithmus/(German-language link)

Wix - Website builder with ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence)

The web design kit from Wix with ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) is designed to help users take their first steps in web design and, with just a few questions answered, create a fully designed website from scratch. Individuality is not a given here, but it is not required either. Information and a test version are available here.

https://www.kritzelblog.de/techniken-fuer-webentwicklung/wix-adi-ki/ (German-language link)

Image editing with A.I.

A.I. is really great here. For example, Topaz's software uses A.I. to optimize images: Disturbances, errors, cracks, noise, pixel effects, and much more that would otherwise take image editors hours to fix are automatically improved using K.I. or A.I. Adobe offers something similar in Photoshop. The verdict: looks great, helps a lot, and makes things easier.

https://www.topazlabs.com

Generative design with AI – sharpening the senses

So-called generative processes already exist in other disciplines. For example, in architecture or product design, where AI is used to simulate possible forms and structures in order to determine a range of possibilities. This can relate to external forms as well as possible materials or construction. Central parameters and rules that must be entered are important here. The advantages are questions that can be answered quickly and easily, for example:

What is possible?
What are the potential sources of error?
How do they arise?
And how can I eliminate them?

This can greatly increase the speed of the design process and make the designer's work much easier. What it does not take away from them is the decision of how to individualize a design in a highly differentiated way. That remains up to the design team. But their senses are so much more sharpened.