Will the profession of industrial design be displaced by A.I?
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.”
The evolution of the industrial design profession is a fascinating process that has evolved from the era of artisans to contemporary designers. From ancient master craftsmen to professionals using advanced tools and technology, this field has come a long way. However, in the face of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, questions arise about the future of this profession. Could AI threaten the job of a designer?
To answer this question, we must first remember the genesis of this profession. Once, artisans were the creators and executors of their works. They designed and produced objects that were both functional and aesthetic. They possessed the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to create unique works of applied art. It is their work that often ended up in museums, testifying to master craftsmanship that we have the opportunity to admire today. However, with technological progress and increased market demands, a need for a new approach to design and production emerged.
In this context, the profession of industrial design evolved from craftsmanship, combining technical skills, knowledge of materials and technologies, and artistic sense. Industrial form designers began to take over the role of craftsmen, designing products suited to the needs of the modern world.
And here we reach our question: what impact will AI have on the work of industrial designers? Indeed, with the advent of artificial intelligence, some began to fear that the profession of industrial design would be replaced by machines. However, there are several key factors that suggest that human cooperation with AI can be beneficial but not replaceable.
Firstly, artificial intelligence is based on existing ideas and data from which it generates new combinations, it's somewhat like Picasso once said, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." I believe it is a tool that can aid the creative process, but it lacks an innate sense of being human. Notice the everywhere appearing shoe designs generated by AI - they look beautiful, but at the same time, you can see that they were created by someone who never wore shoes. Only being human gives us the right perspective to create a fully useful product for people. It is possible that AI will be irreplaceable in creating products for other AIs because you can't cheat ergonomics. Design requires understanding functionality and user interaction. It is in this sphere that the human plays a crucial role, bringing a unique perspective and empathy.
Product usability is often a matter of touch and interaction with it, and this requires the knowledge and experience of a human designer who has a feel in their fingers similar to the future users of a product. AI can generate visualizations, but the true value of an industrial designer lies in the ability to create, firstly, producible objects and, secondly, those that significantly improve people's quality of life, or at least try. And only a human will understand the needs, expectations, and desires of another human.
Nevertheless, I am fascinated by this technology and have already experienced the benefits of cooperating with AI many times personally. During work on one of the recent projects, I used AI which conducted very complex strength and mechanical calculations for me in a short time, saving me many hours of effort. It is understandable that technology can act as support, speeding up certain design stages and allowing focusing on more creative and strategic aspects of the design process. Such a synergy between human and AI allows maximizing the potential of the industrial design profession, and any other, not only creative one.
My conclusion from observations and my own experiences is that artificial intelligence is not capable of threatening the job of a designer, on the contrary, cooperation with AI represents the next step in the evolution of this profession. Industrial designers will still be needed to create products that are functional, attractive, and meet user needs, because the value of their work lies in their ability to combine technical knowledge, creative, and understanding of human needs thanks to empathy. AI can be a supporting tool, but it is the human who still has a decisive influence on the design of products that will have a chance to enrich someone's life. There is no war between AI and industrial designers, but rather between those designers who exploit the potential of AI, and those whom this revolution will bypass. The key to success will be skillfully combining human creative thinking with the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence. With AI, we all have a chance to become a bit like superhuman.