Jarrod Limand The American Hardwood Export Council presented their latest collaboration: Man x Machine x Material at the Interzum SEA showcase at Iffina Indonesia Meubel & Design Expo this month.
Generative AI is a tool that will transform our lives – machines can process and transmit huge volumes of information at a speed far beyond the capabilities of humans.
But artificial intelligence remains very different from human intelligence. A computer cannot access context, it does not have an evolved understanding of the human condition and our emotional response to our environment and the materials within that environment. It does not sense nor care what we feel.
Lim experimented with human-computer interaction in his creation of Airstream table and Diffuse stools in American red oak. He collaborated with ChatGPT to explore the benefits and limitations of AI for a designer who works with a material so emotionally engaging as American red oak.
The Approach
When embarking on the collaboration, Lim first commented on how he had to overcome his natural resistance to working with a non-human partner:
“I needed to begin the design of the AHEC booth with an open mindset, free from preconceived notions. Initially, creating a table or stools wasn’t even part of the plan. I engaged the AI to research the use of timber in furniture design, aiming to integrate notable Indonesian elements. This initiated a collaborative process, where the AI contributed design ideas which I then refined with my own creative insights. The outcome was a true partnership between human intuition and AI-driven innovation.”
The Challenge
While the first designs between Man x Machine were aesthetically promising, they were not likely to be viable from a manufacturing perspective:
“The specificity of prompts given to the AI were crucial for achieving a design that was both visually appealing and feasible to produce. As a designer, intuitive understanding guides what looks good and what will work. However, with AI, these intuitive elements needed to be articulated explicitly” said Lim of the process.
The practical skills and material knowledge naturally acquired by designers such as Lim over years of trial and error in production proved a stumbling block in communication with the AI platform:
“The AI initially provided generic timber suggestions but with prompts for sustainable and workable materials it pointed to American red oak which is a material that is easy to work and versatile. It’s readily available, sustainable and it steams and bends easily so in a sense the material choice made up for the lack of understanding of industrial production methods. The AI model struggled when prompted to consider the technical aspects of production, which are second nature to a craftsman. This highlighted to me the current limitations of the AI which I found easier to resolve using my past experience rather than further instruction. Whilst I fully appreciate the machine would maybe learn over time, communicating what I knew in a way that it could understand was too time consuming and would certainly be a problem given the usual scope of my work” continues Lim.
The Outcome:
Lim persevered with the AI generated ideas and fully collaborated to realise a stunning collection of table, stools and screen.
“The Airstream table and Diffuse stools represent a fusion of AI-generated concepts with my design language, merging contemporary aesthetics with Indonesian cultural influences. Drawing inspiration from Indonesian lattice screens and Balinese interior styles, these pieces also reflect Indonesia’s shipbuilding heritage through the bent wood construction of the legs. The AI recommended American red oak for its workability and durability, and collaborating with the skilled craftsmen at Omega Mas brought these designs to fruition. This project exemplifies how technology can enhance creativity.”
The Reflection:
Reflecting on his experience, Lim’s collaboration demonstrated how generative AI can be a helpful tool for ideation and experimentation, bringing to life concepts within seconds. Yet whilst AI models can quickly generate attention-grabbing designs suitable for content hungry consumers of media, its ability to combine these with a sense of what is possible is still limited.
“This experience has been profoundly enlightening for me. Collaborating with generative AI compelled me to clearly define and articulate my design objectives. The AI assisted in narrowing down material choices, ultimately leading to the selection of American red oak. While we are still in the early stages of generative AI, it’s evident that this tool will become increasingly integral to the design process, similar to 3D designing years ago. Rather than replacing human design sensibilities, it serves to enhance and elevate our creative capabilities. But while it can generate eye-catching designs quickly, there is no story-telling element behind the inspiration, no designers’ intuition which guides proportions and material choice. At the end of the day I have to question whether alone, it is capable of creating designs which people can fall in love with” concludes Lim.
For further details, please visit: americanhardwood.org.
