With an exponential rate of expansion in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the 21st century is witnessing a contemporary industrial revolution with an increase in automation, mechanization and subsequently, in efficiency. The impact of AI tools and programmes has been widespread and far-reaching, with a perceptible effect on the field of design, both in the sphere of education and in corporations.
As we witness the effects of artificial intelligence around us, there is a sense of inevitability that AI-powered tools will get integrated into the curriculum at design educational institutes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
One of the primary benefits of using AI for design is increased automation at every step of the process right from the duration of initial sketches to the generation of designs with inputs from multiple stakeholders. The inclusion of AI at the current stage is primarily with respect to routine aspects such as streamlining workflow and reducing manual errors, while the creative portions are still at the behest of the designer. However, this is bound to change with time as AI is in a constant flux of self-transformation and development.
The method of enhancing creativity and innovation is spurred by upcoming tools and resources. For instance, ChatGPT has taken the globe by storm as there is a frenzy regarding content creation and its future. Today there are multiple new AI tools dedicated solely to design, such as designs.ai, which sells itself as helping create “logos, videos, mockups and banners in 2 minutes”, Uizard which is built for non-designers with over 400,000 users, and Khroma which focuses on colour palettes.
A benefit that AI-powered tools provide is their ability to analyse, almost error-free, extensive data on user details, preferences, popular trends and market insights. This can also aid the idea of market prediction which will help designers, both freelance and corporates, to stay ahead of the curve and curate content that will garner more attention and relevance.
Concepts such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) also come into play here. A complex new arena is thus created as AI may be utilized to aid designers in building 3D virtual reality worlds for games, movies, etc. The key tenets that tie together AI are optimization, finance and speed. The diverse new technology enables designers to work faster and on a more affordable budget. A blueprint for this is Netflix’s usage of augmented intelligence structures to transform artwork and show banners in the local languages. The system follows a process of reading the original version and then quickly producing localized graphics and artwork.
The inclusion of AI in the field of design allows for exacerbated accessibility as it promotes a friendly user interface and encourages beginners to try their hand at the booming arena of design. This is also beneficial for individuals with physical disabilities. This goes hand-in-hand with the concept of customization that AI allows for, as it provides easy-to-access readymade templates that can be modified for a particular task at hand. This permits the creator to approve or disapprove adjustments, thereby preserving their artistic impulse and thought process. The avenues are endless.
It is evident that AI has multitudinous positive impacts on the design industry, and these can be divided into the broad categories of personalization, efficiency and accessibility. Nonetheless, there is a sense of apprehension and fear regarding the burgeoning of AI. To combat this, several experts believe that a befitting alternate term would be ‘augmented intelligence’, as this would lessen the inhibition several creators have with using AI, and losing agency over their art.
With such technological advancements, the horizon for students in the country has only expanded. The changes accelerated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that forced us to rethink our definition of education. Since then, individuals, institutions and corporations alike have explored the various ways we can leverage technology and online tools to our advantage. The development of AI tools in recent times marks the high point of the technological revolution of sorts.
With access to such tools, the opportunities seem manifold as they pave the way towards a future where the youth are well-equipped, efficient and empowered to tackle a rapidly transforming world. AI tools are bound to continue advancing in complex and multi-faceted ways. This offers the design aspirants and the design industry at large a world that was previously untapped – navigating through these new and previously unexplored spaces will open doors to talents, careers and a social reality that we are only beginning to understand the surface of.
(The writer, Dr. Jitin Chadha, is the founder and CEO of Indian Institute of Art & Design (IIAD)
