Using AI as a Design Tool in My Architecture Practice
TLDRIn this video, the architect discusses the misconception that architecture is a singular act, emphasizing it is a long process starting with an idea and a sketch. The architect explores using AI tool Mid-Journey to enhance this process. Mid-Journey allows for generating numerous design variations quickly, helping to discover unexpected ideas. By blending and remixing images, the architect uses the tool to refine designs and push creative boundaries. Ultimately, Mid-Journey serves as a valuable tool in the iterative design process, enabling the exploration of more options and innovative solutions.
Takeaways
- ποΈ Architecture is a long process that starts with an idea and evolves through sketches and testing.
- π² The speaker uses AI as a tool in their architectural practice, comparing the experience to gambling and watching Polaroids develop.
- π€ AI, specifically 'mid-journey,' is used to generate building designs by averaging and slicing data from images.
- π The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting prompts with modifiers to influence the AI's output more effectively.
- π AI can be directed to produce images with specific elements and materials, leading to more interesting and tailored results.
- π¨ The process involves blending images to create unexpected results, guiding the AI to select for certain traits in each iteration.
- πΌοΈ The AI-generated images are used as a starting point for further design development, akin to sketching.
- π The speaker uses anomalies in the AI images to inspire new design ideas, such as a movable 'shroud' element in a live/work project.
- π οΈ AI is considered another tool in the design process, allowing for exploration of more options than before.
- π« The speaker notes that nothing generated by AI is precious or perfect as finished architecture; it's a waypoint in the process.
- π΅ The transcript concludes with a musical note, indicating the creative and experimental nature of using AI in architecture.
Q & A
What misconception about architecture does the speaker address at the beginning of the transcript?
-The speaker addresses the misconception that architecture is a singular act of the architect with a grand vision that falls onto the page. Instead, it is a long process starting with an idea and a sketch, which is then tested in different ways.
What new tool has the speaker been experimenting with in their architecture practice?
-The speaker has been experimenting with MidJourney, an AI tool, in their architecture practice.
How does the speaker describe the experience of using MidJourney?
-The speaker describes using MidJourney as addictive, comparing it to gambling and watching old Polaroids develop, where the image appears in front of your eyes after shaking the photo.
How does the speaker approach using MidJourney for architectural design?
-The speaker approaches using MidJourney by starting with an important modifier in the prompt, calling out the subject of the image in terms of elemental forms, adding material references, specifying details, and setting or environment. They also use character modifiers and aspect ratios to control the final output.
What is the purpose of using specific modifiers and references in the prompts?
-The purpose of using specific modifiers and references in the prompts is to have more control over the final output, steer the image creation process, and achieve a result that aligns with the initial idea and design goals.
How does blending images play a role in the speaker's design process?
-Blending images is a key part of the process, allowing the speaker to combine multiple images, uncover unexpected results, and guide MidJourney to select certain traits in each iteration, leading to a final result that can be upscaled and used in the design process.
What analogy does the speaker use to describe the iterative process of using MidJourney?
-The speaker compares the iterative process of using MidJourney to sketching, where a weird artifact serves as a crack exposing new opportunities that were not previously considered.
How does the speaker plan to use the images generated by MidJourney in their design work?
-The speaker plans to use the images generated by MidJourney in their design work by importing them into Procreate, pushing the design forward, and exploring new opportunities and relationships between elements in the design.
What specific design ideas does the speaker consider when looking at the images in Procreate?
-The speaker considers separating pieces horizontally, using a unifying shroud element, creating a boundary between work and life, and having elements that can move in and out on tracks, providing different aspects in the landscape.
What advantage does the speaker see in using MidJourney compared to traditional design methods?
-The speaker sees the advantage of using MidJourney in being able to explore many more options quickly, with nothing being too precious or exactly correct, thus allowing for more experimentation and creativity in the design process.
Outlines
ποΈ Architectural Design Process and Mid-Journey Experimentation
This paragraph discusses the misconception of architecture as a singular act and instead describes it as a lengthy, iterative process. The speaker shares their experience with a new tool called 'mid-journey,' which they find addictive due to its mix of unpredictability and the excitement of seeing results develop. They compare the process to sculpting landscapes or using materials in unique ways, like famous architects Michael Heiser or Richard Sarah. The speaker uses mid-journey to create building types by averaging data, such as saunas, and emphasizes the importance of starting with a strong idea. They detail their approach to using mid-journey, which includes starting the prompt with important modifiers, thinking in terms of elemental forms, adding material references, and specifying details and settings. The speaker also mentions the use of character modifiers, such as referencing styles of famous photographers or artists, to influence the final image. The process involves remixing and reprompting until a satisfactory base image is achieved, which is then used for blending to uncover unexpected results. The speaker concludes by discussing how these images can guide the design process, pushing it forward by considering anomalies and exploring new opportunities.
πΏ Exploring Exterior Design with Mid-Journey
In this paragraph, the speaker continues the discussion on using mid-journey for architectural design, focusing on exterior elements such as wood screens. They describe how mid-journey allows for the exploration of many more design options than before, emphasizing that nothing is too precious or perfect in the design process. The speaker illustrates the concept of a parallax effect, where the exterior face of a building changes depending on the viewer's perspective, using the example of old tobacco barns with slats that open up. They describe how this simple exterior volume can have a complex relationship between the inside and outside, and how mid-journey is just another tool in the design process, helping to refine and explore architectural ideas without settling on a final solution too quickly.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Architecture
π‘Mid-journey
π‘Aerial View
π‘Elemental Forms
π‘Averaging
π‘Strong Idea
π‘Blending
π‘Remixing
π‘Upscale
π‘Parallax Effect
π‘Multifunctional Space
Highlights
Architecture is not a singular act but a long process starting with an idea and a sketch.
Experimenting with AI as a design tool in the architectural process.
Mid-journey AI can be addictive, offering a mix of gambling and the excitement of developing Polaroids.
Using AI to zoom out and think abstractly about architecture, inspired by landscape sculptors and material artists.
AI-generated images can be averaged to create familiar building types, like Asana.
The importance of starting the AI prompt with a strong modifier for greater influence on the final result.
Thinking in terms of elemental forms rather than specific building types for more interesting AI results.
Adding material references in AI prompts helps to steer the final images towards desired outcomes.
Incorporating specific details and environment settings in AI prompts for more control over the output.
Using character modifiers like magazine styles or artists' names to influence AI-generated images.
The creative process involves remixing and reprompting AI until a satisfactory set of base images is achieved.
Blurring and combining images using AI to uncover unexpected design elements.
Guiding AI through iterations to select for certain traits and refine the design.
Using AI-generated images as a sketching tool to explore new design opportunities.
The concept of a unifying shroud element that can move in and out, providing a dynamic architectural feature.
Considering the visual separation and parallax effect created by exterior wood screens.
AI as a tool to explore many more architectural options than previously possible.
AI is not a replacement for finished architecture but another waypoint in the design process.