AI Assisted Design – What is it? Is it good?

There’s been so much talk about AI – Artificial Intelligence – and whether it’s good or the downfall of society. I’d say it’s both. Bad actors can use it for ill purposes such as creating fake images or recording of real people and putting words into their mouths. That’s obviously bad.

In the interior design world there’s a lot of discussion about whether AI will replace interior designers. It really won’t in my opinion – just because we can create a room – either by hand or with the use of generative AI doesn’t mean it’s right for a specific client, location or use. That takes real knowledge, skill and experience. But it can help speed along a process and open up the opportunity to quickly express a concept or idea. Or even create something that has never existed!

Here’s a great and real life example that just debuted this past week at KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) to great acclaim – see this beautiful sink above? Have you ever seen anything like it? Interior Design industry marketing genius Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership was asked by coppersmiths Thompson Traders to create a design for a new sink using AI tools like MidJourney. Leslie is always on the forefront of new technologies and advocating its uses to designers (like me) who may not “see” it for themselves. Leslie worked as a luxury interior designer for many years before moving into marketing and becoming the premier digital marketing agency in the USA for home furnishings brands and interior designers alike. So she’s got a designer’s eye and a business analysts’s thought processes.

Leslie fired up her MidJourney account and came up with this:

And the artisans at Thompson Traders turned this idea into this:

Isn’t this just stunning? You’re looking at a literal world’s first. Leslie shared the initial AI rendering last summer (she’s written about the process here) and I’ll admit I wondered how the Thompson Traders craftspeople were going to handle the drain – which wasn’t existing in the AI rendering.

Side note – AI renderings are not perfect and not entirely “direct-able”.  I couldn’t imagine what the drain was going to look like and how it wouldn’t interfere with the beautiful form of the sink – but Thompson Trader’s could and did. How elegant is this small little drain? They also widened and enlarged the sink for better real-world use. Also – how gorgeous is this copper coloring? All done with fire – no chemicals. This sink is a great example of how new tech supports artisan craftsmanship. This sink is made of solid copper – by hand (no molds or stamping) using the same tools & techniques passed down to these metalsmithing artisans since the 16th century.

Here is some more about the creation of AILA:

I’ve begun using AI assisted design to illustrate my blog posts – and it’s a game changer! I’ve been blogging for nearly 20 years (!!) and it’s always been a struggle to find great images to showcase whatever topic I was discussing. And I’ve gotten in trouble (which cost $$$)  for using images without permission. So now – in a series of clicks and texts prompts I can create unique images that are solely mine to use. It’s important – however – to make sure it’s made clear that these are AI generated and not real spaces. As you can see – my logo includes the AI designation as do my captions.

As AI gets better and better and users like me learn more about how to create realistic images – we’re all going to need to be discerning in what we’re looking at and content creators  also need to be very clear what is real and what is imaginary.

I created this image using MidJourney:

which reminded me of this kitchen I photographed at the 2023 Newburyport Kitchen Tour:

I think there’s no doubt which kitchen is more beautiful and natural feeling – but the casual observer might not. Although my reflection in the ovens is a giveaway!

I thought I’d play around with creating my own vessel sink using AI assisted design – this is the progression from my first prompt: A ceramic floral vessel sink

To a refined version of the 4th image which I think is very beautiful but a little early 20th Century Arts and Crafts era for my taste

I have been in a pink mood recently so revised my text prompt to say something like “a pink floral ceramic vessel sink”:

From which I played around with the fourth image which I think is pretty but a little flat.

I added the term “Japanese cherry blossoms” and “pink marble”

And ended up here:

Wouldn’t this be just the most spectacular vessel sink in a powder room? I like the dimensional looking spray of cherry blossom branches with the mix of pinks and coppery brown. Now all I need is the ceramicist to make it a reality. And the bathroom to put it in!

What are your thoughts on AI assisted design? I’d love to hear your thoughts!