Can You Really Use AI for Design and Architecture? Step-by-Step Guide

Nuno Silva
19 Sept 202341:29

TLDRThe video provides a comprehensive guide on utilizing AI for design and architecture. It showcases the use of AI in generating images for inspiration and reference in creative projects. The host demonstrates the process of creating and refining images using AI tools like Midjourney and Chat GPT, emphasizing the importance of specific prompts to achieve desired results. The video also covers the application of these AI-generated images in 3D modeling and rendering using Lumion software. It highlights various techniques to manipulate and blend images, adjust lighting, and select materials for a realistic outcome. The host dispels concerns about AI replacing human designers by stressing the value of AI as a tool for generating references rather than complete projects. The summary underlines the potential of AI to enhance the creative workflow in design and architecture, offering a fascinating insight into the future of these fields.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 **AI in Design and Architecture**: AI can be a game-changer for generating images that serve as references in architecture and design projects.
  • 🚀 **Midjourney Tool**: The speaker uses Midjourney to create and fine-tune images, finding it highly addictive and a source of inspiration.
  • 📈 **Step-by-Step Method**: A methodical approach is used to get realistic AI-generated images, which involves starting simple and gradually adding more specific details to the prompts.
  • 🏡 **Modern House Example**: The process includes specifying elements like materials (concrete), features (tall windows), and setting (Pine Forest) to generate a modern house.
  • 🌅 **Lighting and Mood**: The importance of specifying the lighting conditions and mood (e.g., sunset, clear blue sky) is emphasized for influencing the output image's atmosphere.
  • 👩‍💼 **AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement**: AI is seen as a reference tool rather than a replacement for architects and designers, as it cannot handle client requests for multiple views or specific design changes.
  • 📐 **3D Modeling and Rendering**: The script covers using an AI-generated image as a reference for 3D modeling and rendering in software like Lumion, focusing on light settings, materials, and terrain tools.
  • 🖼️ **Image Upscaling and Variations**: Upscaling AI-generated images provides more options for variations, such as zooming out or customizing the aspect ratio to add context to the scene.
  • 🔍 **Precision with Chat GPT**: Using Chat GPT in conjunction with Midjourney can yield more precise and detailed results by generating a more focused prompt.
  • 🧩 **Blending Images**: Combining multiple AI-generated images or styles can create unique blends that offer new design inspirations.
  • ⛺️ **Creating a Story**: Adding elements like trees, lamp posts, and decals to a scene can add character and tell a story, making the design more relatable and realistic.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is using AI for design and architecture, specifically exploring the use of AI in generating images that can be used as references in architecture and design projects.

  • What is the AI tool mentioned in the video that the speaker has been using?

    -The AI tool mentioned in the video that the speaker has been using is called 'mid-journey'.

  • How does the speaker describe the process of creating images using AI?

    -The speaker describes a step-by-step method that involves starting with a simple prompt, refining the prompt to be more specific, and then using the generated images as references. The process also includes using chat GPT for more precise results, 3D modeling with an image as a reference, and rendering in Lumion software.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on whether AI can replace the jobs of architects and designers?

    -The speaker believes that while AI can be a very useful tool for generating references and sparking inspiration, it is not capable of replacing the jobs of architects and designers. This is because AI cannot make specific changes to elements within a generated image or provide multiple views of a project, which are often required by clients.

  • How can the aspect ratio of the generated images be changed?

    -The aspect ratio of the generated images can be changed by specifying a custom zoom or by using the 'zoom out' option, which allows the AI to generate additional surrounding areas to adjust the aspect ratio.

  • What is the purpose of using the 'no' prefix in the prompt when using AI?

    -The 'no' prefix is used in the prompt to instruct the AI to exclude specific elements from the final generated image. For example, if the speaker wants to remove a kitchen island from the image, they would add 'no kitchen island' to the prompt.

  • How does the speaker use the 'style' setting in the AI tool?

    -The speaker uses the 'style' setting to control the level of creativity in the AI's response. A 'high' style setting allows the AI to be more creative, while a 'low' style setting makes the AI adhere more closely to the specifics of the prompt.

  • What is the role of the 'photorealistic' plugin in the AI tool?

    -The 'photorealistic' plugin is used to generate more detailed prompts for use in mid-journey, which can help create more realistic and precise images.

  • How does blending multiple images in the AI tool work?

    -Blending multiple images in the AI tool involves combining two or more images to create a new image that incorporates elements from each. This can be done by simply typing 'blend' and then dragging and dropping the images to be blended.

  • What is the significance of using an image as a reference for 3D modeling?

    -Using an image as a reference for 3D modeling helps in maintaining the correct perspective and dimensions of the design. It allows the designer to create a 3D model that is more accurate and aligned with the intended design concept.

  • How does the speaker use Lumion software for rendering?

    -The speaker uses Lumion software to render the 3D model by setting up the environment, adding terrain, creating a landscape, and adjusting lighting settings. They also use Lumion to tweak light settings, select materials, and navigate the terrain tools and object library for a more realistic outcome.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 AI in Design and Architecture: Exploring Midjourney

The speaker discusses the use of AI for generating images for design and architecture inspiration. They share their experience with Midjourney, an AI tool that has become a game-changer in their creative workflow. The speaker admits the process can be addictive but outlines a step-by-step method to create realistic images using AI. They plan to demonstrate creating and refining images, using chat GPT for precision, 3D modeling with an image reference, and rendering in Lumion with tips on light settings, materials, and terrain tools.

05:01

🏠 Crafting Realistic Images with AI: From House to Modern Home

The speaker illustrates how to use AI to generate images of a house, then a modern house, by specifying elements like materials and setting. They explain the importance of being specific in the prompt to guide the AI's creativity. The speaker also shows how to upscale images and make variations, such as zooming out or extending the image in different directions. They discuss the limitations of AI in generating multiple views and customizing details, emphasizing AI as a tool for reference rather than a job replacement.

10:02

🖼️ Interior Design with AI: Creating and Customizing Kitchens

The speaker moves on to interior design, specifically kitchens, and demonstrates how to generate images using AI with specific prompts. They show how to refine results by removing unwanted elements and adjusting the style of the AI's creativity. The speaker also uses a plugin called 'photorealistic' in chat GPT to create a detailed prompt for Midjourney. They discuss blending different images to create a unique style and adjusting the aspect ratio of the final image.

15:05

🛠️ 3D Modeling and Rendering: From AI Image to Realistic Scene

The speaker describes the process of using an AI-generated image as a reference for 3D modeling. They detail setting up lines for perspective, modeling the scene with correct dimensions, and using the image in Lumion for further development. The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a base model and using references to ensure accuracy. They also discuss adding elements like trees and the ocean to create a more realistic and contextual scene.

20:09

🌲 Enhancing the Scene with Nature and Lighting Effects

The speaker focuses on adding natural elements to the scene, such as leafless trees and rocks, to create a wintery atmosphere. They explain how to use Lumion's tools to place and randomize these elements for a more realistic look. The speaker also discusses adjusting the lighting to match the reference image by using sun effects and changing the sun's heading. They mention adding fog for a more realistic horizon and using color correction to fine-tune the scene's appearance.

25:12

🏡 Bringing the Interior to Life with Details and Textures

The speaker talks about adding details to the interior scene to make it more lively and realistic. They discuss using Lumion's object library to add everyday items like cooktops, tables, and shelves, and adjusting their colors and positions for a natural look. The speaker also mentions using decals to create a sense of wear and decay, adding character to the scene. They highlight the importance of storytelling through the scene's details and the flexibility of changing camera angles and lighting conditions.

30:14

📚 Final Touches and Creating Variations with AI and Lumion

The speaker concludes by showing the finished scene, emphasizing the use of decals and materials from Lumion to enhance realism. They demonstrate how easy it is to create different views and make adjustments to the scene in Lumion. The speaker also mentions their new course dedicated to Lumion 2023 and invites viewers to share how they use AI tools in their projects. They provide a link to the course in the video description and sign off, looking forward to the next video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is used to generate images for design and architecture, which can serve as inspiration or references for projects. The video discusses how AI can be a game-changer in the creative process by providing new and unique visual ideas.

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is a term used in the video to refer to a specific AI tool that generates images based on textual prompts. It is described as being potentially addictive and a source of new inspiration for the creator's projects. The tool allows for the creation of various images that can be fine-tuned and blended to achieve the desired results, which can then be used in architectural and design contexts.

💡Prompt

A prompt in the context of the video is a textual input or command given to the AI to generate a specific type of image. The video emphasizes the importance of being specific with prompts to guide the AI in creating images that align with the user's vision. For example, the creator might input 'modern house in a pine forest' to generate images that can be used as references for architectural designs.

💡3D Modeling

3D modeling is the process of creating a three-dimensional representation of an object or scene using specialized software. In the video, the creator discusses using AI-generated images as a reference for 3D modeling in design projects. This involves taking the two-dimensional AI images and translating them into three-dimensional models that can be rendered and further manipulated in software like Lumion.

💡Lumion

Lumion is a 3D rendering software used for visualizations of architecture, landscapes, and other scenes. The video demonstrates how to use Lumion to render AI-generated images, discussing techniques such as tweaking light settings, selecting materials, and navigating the terrain tools and object library to achieve realistic and aesthetically pleasing results.

💡Photorealistic

Photorealism in the context of the video refers to the quality of an image or rendering that resembles a photograph. The creator uses the term to describe the level of detail and realism they aim for in their AI-generated images and subsequent 3D models. The video mentions using a 'photorealistic' plugin in chat GPT to generate more detailed prompts for creating images that closely resemble real-life scenes.

💡Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between the width and the height of an image or screen. In the video, the creator discusses changing the aspect ratio of AI-generated images to fit different design needs, such as creating more horizontal or vertical images by specifying custom aspect ratios like 3:2.

💡Upscaling

Upscaling in the video refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image, which can provide more detail and allow for variations or extensions to be made to the original image. The creator demonstrates upscaling an image in Midjourney and then using the additional resolution to create a zoomed-out version of the scene, providing more context and details.

💡Blending

Blending in the context of the video is the process of combining multiple images to create a single, cohesive image. The creator uses blending to mix different styles and elements from various AI-generated images, resulting in a unique design that incorporates aspects from each. This technique is used to achieve a more complex and layered final image.

💡Interior Design

Interior design is the art and science of creating the interior of a space to reflect the tastes and needs of the people who use it. The video script mentions starting an interior design project for a kitchen and using AI to generate images with specific features like 'white modern kitchen with wood accents' and 'skyscraper view', which serve as a starting point for the design process.

💡Decals

Decals in the video are used to add details and textures to 3D models in Lumion. They are two-dimensional images that can be applied to surfaces to simulate effects like rust, dirt, or peeling paint. The creator uses decals to add realism and character to their scene, suggesting a more lived-in and aged environment rather than a brand-new space.

Highlights

AI can be a game-changer in the field of design and architecture by generating images for project inspiration.

Midjourney, an AI tool, can create addictive and time-consuming image generation for design projects.

A step-by-step method is outlined for using AI to create realistic images for architecture and design references.

The importance of specifying elements like materials, windows, and setting in the AI prompt for more accurate results.

AI-generated images can be manipulated in various ways, including aspect ratio changes and extensions.

AI is seen as a reference tool rather than a replacement for architects or designers.

The use of 'no' in prompts to exclude specific elements from AI-generated images.

Chat GPT can be used for more precise AI image generation by providing detailed prompts.

Different styles in AI, such as high creativity or low creativity, can be chosen based on the desired outcome.

Blending multiple images using AI can create unique and integrated styles for design inspiration.

AI can generate images for interior design projects, taking into account specified styles, materials, and views.

Lumion software can render 3D models with AI-generated images, tweaking light settings, materials, and terrain tools.

The process of 3D modeling using AI references involves setting correct dimensions and perspectives.

Lumion allows for the creation of detailed environments with natural elements like trees, rocks, and water bodies.

Power Tools, available in the Microsoft Store, can assist with color picking and text copying for image editing.

Lumion's object library provides a wide selection of assets to add realism and detail to rendered scenes.

Decals and materials in Lumion can add character and tell a story to a scene, making it more realistic.

Post-processing in Photoshop can further align the final render with the desired style and references.

AI tools are being effectively used in creative workflows for design and architecture projects.