When designers place on algorithms and become co -designers

Some love them, some hate them. In the artistic and design area in particular, the further development of technology raised new questions in the past decades. In many areas, creative processes and activities have been redefined against the background of technology.

What was initially doubted by many is more and more than great potential - provided that the technology is used sensibly and specifically and creative tasks does not take over completely. In the field of design in particular, modern algorithms can be of great help - as long as they do not go beyond the role of a co -designer.

A brief demolition of historical change

The concept of design is roughly caught, as old as humanity. People have always become creative in one way or another. To this day, cave paintings testify all over the world. A different facet was added to the artistic projects over the millennia: planning .

In modern words, designing is often not just about producing an artistic product, but a creative process that comes to a creative goal according to certain requirements and ideas.

Centrally here: the sketch . The production of a sketch usually means that errors happen or change ideas. With pen and paper, this can be a significant hurdle. Modern touchscreens brought the situation here. Drawn can be undone or changed with a tap without residues remaining or the material suffers.

However, the end of the technical flagpole is far from being reached. The software came to the fore more and more. End devices were suddenly no longer the medium of design, but played an increasingly active role.

Today, algorithms are able to analyze data and works of art independently. Ki can also become creative himself and create his own works of art and designs.

Man and machine as a creative partner

Image source: Roderick Qiu, via Pixabay

If the technology and its algorithms are properly used, you can become an enriching working partner to complete creative projects even more according to your own ideas. Creative ideas can try out more daring ideas and give designs a chance that could otherwise end as a betting time. The technology is able to generate its own designs, so that there is a gross impression of what it could look like in the end.

All of this happens within seconds, so that the designer can quickly see which design direction he wants to take. In the meantime, a unique art genre has also formed around the AI, which is also reflected on platforms such as deviantart .

The basic question

At the latest since AI is booming, everyone is aware: technology is able to produce creative works. At least at first glance. Then a question quickly arises:

Are the works of AI really creative? And if so, does this apply to the program or is the artist still the creative head that takes artificial intelligence as a tool, similar to how he takes a pencil to sketch?

How an artist uses technology and what benefits he draws is ultimately his own methodological decision. Does he only use them as support to create faster designs and get new inspiration, or does he create whole works with it? The latter works especially when designing websites.

Both approaches are legitimate. After all, there are also diverse approaches on how designs are used or received. If it is a website, the analytical view of the machine is advantageous in order to ensure optimal navigation in the menu navigation and generate an appealing look. In other areas, such as the design of living rooms, there is a factor that the machine cannot replace - humanity.

For a really homely concept, empathy and understanding of moods and atmosphere are needed. Here people are in the foreground as an emotional and creative authority, and the technology only helps to give inspiration on how the elements could be arranged.

The responsible handling of AI

When it comes to technology and responsibility, you quickly think of action films in which machines are directed against humanity and want to take over the world. In reality it is not quite as drastically. However, there are other aspects in which the correct use of technology is absolutely necessary. Especially data protection. In order for the AI ​​to generate something, it must be fed with information and data.

Designers who work on the order basis for customers must therefore pay attention to sufficient data protection . In the meantime, this is also legally stipulated at EU level, since service providers have to demonstrate the necessary data protection compliance according to the GDPR .

Responsible action is also required when dealing with the works of others. Even if the AI ​​seems to be freely designed, the ultimate responsibility for the work still lies with the designer. In some cases, it must be clearly marked if a design or motif that has arisen by AI generators represents real events, people, places or facilities. In addition, the designer is responsible for the fact that there are no plagiarism.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/