How AI is Forcing Design Rethink
And Why It May Be a Time for a Change
“AI and robots will not replace us — at least not in the short term. Instead of being a threat, augmented intelligence will present a series of exciting opportunities.” — The Present and Future of AI in Design
Design, as we know it, has been around for centuries, but its meaning has evolved significantly over time. Lauren Simkin Berke, an architecture writer, explains that the term “design” has its roots in the Latin word “dē-signo,” which conveyed a much wider and abstract set of meanings than it does today. Berke argues that the use of drawing to directly shape construction in the 13th and 14th centuries began a linguistic shift, with this sense of “design” eclipsing almost all the others. However, the meaning of design today is far removed from its original sense. In fact, the meaning of design has diminished, especially as we continue to exhaust the world’s finite resources.
If design is about imposing shape on the world, as Berke suggests, then we need to rethink how we approach design. We must reimagine it as a way of creating a sustainable future, rather than a way of satisfying our consumerist desires. Design has become synonymous with branding, but it is essential to realize that design can and should be more than just a label. It is a way of thinking, a way of…
