Autodesk help to create world's first AI-designed chairs

Phillipe Strack has joined forces with Autodesk and design company Kartell to create the first chairs designed by AI.

Strack, a well-established name with decades of experience in design, Autodesk and Kartell have produced what are believed to be the first chairs to have been designed by an algorithm as well as the first commercial product made with generative AI.

In a statement explaining the process, Strack said: “Kartell, Autodesk and I asked artificial intelligence a question: Artificial intelligence, do you know how we can rest our bodies using the least amount of material?”

“Artificial intelligence, without culture, without memories, without influence, responded only with intelligence; it’s ‘artificial’ intelligence.”

The chair, which was unveiled at the Milan Design Show, was designed by plugging a set of conditions into an experimental version of Autodesk’s generative design software.

Strack told the software that he wanted the most structurally sound and comfortable chair possible while using as small an amount of material as possible.

This led to a ‘conversation’ between Strack and the AI-driven technology, with the software continuously ‘learning’ from Strack’s feedback.

“This process evolved into a creative conversation much like what would happen between two humans. But to get there, we had to bridge the gap of understanding between the designer’s vision and what an intelligent yet still immature version of our A.I. was able to deliver,” said Mark Davis, senior director of design futures at Autodesk.