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Imagine a world where furniture design is no longer exclusive to trained professionals but accessible to everyone. That’s the beauty of generative design. It is a revolutionary technology that transforms us all into co-designers, enabling us to shape the world around us, one piece of furniture at a time. This is not just a new trend in the design industry; it’s a technological breakthrough democratizing design, changing how we perceive and interact with our surroundings.
As envisioned by Marvell Lahens, founder of the Chicago-based brand Self, Generative design provides an intuitive, user-friendly platform for custom furniture design. Inspired by the book Shape Grammars by Jannis Maroscheck, Lahens harnessed the power of algorithmically defined shape paradigms and rule sets to create a unique design configurator.
The core of this technology lies in these rule sets or constraints. When layered with an easy-to-use interface, they allow anyone, not just creatives, to manipulate the resulting shapes. Thus, The user can participate fully in the design process, creating custom, made-to-order furniture that suits their unique needs and aesthetic sensibilities.
Credit: Self
This new approach disrupts the traditional design process by tearing down barriers to entry. Whether due to a lack of training or resources, many people have been excluded from this creative process. Generative design changes that. It eliminates the need for expertise in joinery or the use of hand tools and offers a more accessible starting point.
Generative design also offers innumerable shape possibilities, even within the constraints defined by the algorithm. As more grammar or rule sets are added to the platform, the range of starting points and possibilities expands, providing endless opportunities for innovation.
Generative design is not just about furniture; it’s about possibility. The collaboration with designer Norman Teague exemplifies this. Teague’s unique shape types were incorporated into the generative design platform, leading to various permutable designs. The tables co-designed by Teague and Lahens are only a few of the countless possibilities that generative design can create.
Beyond collaborations, generative design opens the door for co-designing. This means consumers aren’t just passive recipients; they actively participate in creating objects they will ultimately use. They become full participants in the design process, further demonstrating the democratizing power of this technology.
Credit: Self
Generative design has the potential to revolutionize not only the design industry but our everyday lives as well. It puts the power of design in our hands, allowing us to shape our surroundings to reflect our personal tastes and needs. Generative design cultivates a more diverse, inclusive, and creative world by inviting and enabling people of all backgrounds to participate in the design process.
As we move forward, generative design will continue to evolve, offering even more possibilities for collaboration, innovation, and personalization. The potential impact of this technology is profound. It’s not just about creating beautiful objects; it’s about empowering people, fostering creativity, and, ultimately, shaping a better, more inclusive world.
#GenerativeDesign #DemocratizingDesign #DesignYourWorld
Author: Christian Kromme
First Appeared On: Disruptive Inspiration Daily
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Christian is a futurist and trendwatcher who speaks about the impact of exponential technologies like AI on organizations, people, and talents. Christian tailors his presentations to your audience’s specific industries and needs.
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