Page 34 - FDMAsia NovDec 2024

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MAN X MACHINE X MATERIAL

An exploration with AI in design & material choice. By The American Hardwood Export Council
(AHEC)

arrod Lim and The American Hardwood Export Council and limitations of AI for a designer who works with a material
presented their latest collaboration: Man x Machine so emotionally engaging as American red oak.
Jx Material at the Interzum SEA showcase at Iffina
Indonesia Meubel & Design Expo in October The Approach
Generative AI is a tool that will transform our lives—machines When embarking on the collaboration, Lim first commented
can process and transmit huge volumes of information at a on how he had to overcome his natural resistance to working
speed far beyond the capabilities of humans. with a non-human partner:
But artificial intelligence remains very different from "I needed to begin the design of the AHEC booth with an

human intelligence. A computer cannot access context, open mindset, free from preconceived notions. Initially, creating
it does not have an evolved understanding of the human a table or stools wasn't even part of the plan. I engaged the
condition and our emotional response to our environment AI to research the use of timber in furniture design, aiming
and the materials within that environment. It does not sense to integrate notable Indonesian elements. This initiated a
nor care what we feel. collaborative process, where the AI contributed design ideas
Lim experimented with human-computer interaction in his which I then refined with my own creative insights. The
creation of Airstream table and Diffuse stools in American red outcome was a true partnership between human intuition

oak. He collaborated with ChatGPT to explore the benefits and AI-driven innovation."

Jarrod Lim begins
the collaboration
process