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Embracing a new era of inspiration: Speculative design tool fosters inspiration research to further examine the concept of co-creation with AI

Berlin. In the age of artificial intelligence, the concept of inspiration takes on new dimensions as we explore the potential of human-AI collaboration. By engaging in a creative dialogue with AI, we open ourselves up to fresh perspectives and unexpected insights to rethink our understanding of the creative process. To examine this concept of inspiration with AI, digital art and design studio onformative have developed a speculative design tool that fosters an explorative approach to inspiration research. The »AI Inspiration Tool« takes users on a journey of discovery, starting with a set of simple shapes generated through procedural and algorithmic design. Users are invited to navigate around these shapes, zooming in and out, seeking a spark of inspiration – that moment when they see something that captivates their imagination.

“For us, inspiration has its roots in the abstract and evolves into a wider spectrum of interpretation, eventually taking shape in more concrete forms and concepts. Often, the magic happens during the journey, when you find something you weren’t initially looking for. What if AI could be our inspiration companion on this journey? What if it could lead to moments of inspiration by discovering things we might have overlooked?” states Cedric Kiefer, co-founder and creative lead at onformative.

In the midst of this transformative era where artificial intelligence is reshaping countless aspects of our lives, including the realm of creativity, we are asked to reevaluate and reimagine the creative process. Rather than viewing AI as a mere tool or an end result, what if we embrace it as a co-creator – an integral part of the inspiration and ideation journey? Expanding the diverse backgrounds and perspectives humans bring in, AI can offer unique interpretations and extended insights. By being curious and by engaging in a creative dialogue with AI, we open ourselves up to unexpected ideas that initiate fresh viewpoints, which may have otherwise remained hidden. This co-creation dynamic lies at the heart of onformative’s vision for the future of AI design tools.

The Technical Approach: Procedural Setup meets Algorithmic Design

The initial shapes in the tool are generated using a combination of procedural setup and algorithmic design. This approach allows for a certain level of control, enabling users to choose from organic to geometric forms that best suit their needs and align with their initial ideas. The generative nature of the shape creation opens up a vast space of possibilities, from individually adjusting complexity of the shapes to defining a general materiality, ensuring a unique experience each time the tool is used. A key aspect of developing the tool is making the inspiration process intuitively manageable and easily accessible. The app allows users to store and organize the individual perspectives they explore, creating a personal collection of references. Users can navigate through their saved snapshots, revisiting previous viewpoints and building upon them as their creative journey unfolds.

Speculative Research: Inspiration thought into Multiple Dimensions

The ability to save and revisit inspiration points within the tool opens up intriguing possibilities for cross-cultural analysis. In a collaborative setting, this feature could enable the creation of shared inspiration collections, allowing others to explore and learn from diverse perspectives. By examining the data generated through this tool, we may gain insights into how people from different regions, age groups, or backgrounds perceive and define inspiration. Clustering and analyzing these viewpoints could reveal fascinating patterns and trends, shedding light on the cultural dimensions of creativity.

Beyond its existence as a standalone tool, this concept could be deployed on large-scale media screens – as a constantly evolving wall of inspiration. This endless stream of creative visual input, tailored to specific domains, would provide a persistent source of ideas and stimuli for passersby. While the »AI Inspiration Tool« is designed to be flexible and adaptable, it can also be tailored to specific use cases and domains. By leveraging custom-trained models focused on particular topics or industries, the tool can provide targeted inspiration relevant to the unique needs and challenges of different fields. That is where the concept of the tool invites collaboration to be applied.

Sparking a Conversation: Initiating a Dialogue with AI – and with fellow Creatives

Cedric adds: “Well aware of the rapid rise of new AI design tools, we developed an approach that puts focus on open exploration and an inspirational journey to add a new quality to the creative process. Instead of generating directly from text to image, the »AI inspiration tool« offers room to discover unexpected new perspectives and in-depth exploration from abstract to more concrete, where the user decides when to stop, turn or continue the creative journey”.

By embracing AI as a co-creator and engaging in a playful dialogue, it unlocks new realms of inspiration. The »AI Inspiration Tool« represents a proactive step towards a future where technology is seamlessly integrated into the creative process. Through this project, onformative aim to spark a conversation about the evolving role of design tools and the exciting potential of human-AI collaboration in the pursuit of creativity that goes beyond using AI as a tool to generate final output.

Creative Direction & Concept: Cedric Kiefer
Design: Cedric Kiefer, Sam Care, Leo Romanski, Tsingyun Zhang
Production: Tobias Ziegler
Technical Direction: Henryk Wollik

AI Inspiration Tool

Embracing a new era of inspiration: Speculative design tool fosters inspiration research to further examine the concept of co-creation with AI

Berlin. In the age of artificial intelligence, the concept of inspiration takes on new dimensions as we explore the potential of human-AI collaboration. By engaging in a creative dialogue with AI, we open ourselves up to fresh perspectives and unexpected insights to rethink our understanding of the creative process. To examine this concept of inspiration with AI, digital art and design studio onformative have developed a speculative design tool that fosters an explorative approach to inspiration research. The »AI Inspiration Tool« takes users on a journey of discovery, starting with a set of simple shapes generated through procedural and algorithmic design. Users are invited to navigate around these shapes, zooming in and out, seeking a spark of inspiration – that moment when they see something that captivates their imagination.

“For us, inspiration has its roots in the abstract and evolves into a wider spectrum of interpretation, eventually taking shape in more concrete forms and concepts. Often, the magic happens during the journey, when you find something you weren’t initially looking for. What if AI could be our inspiration companion on this journey? What if it could lead to moments of inspiration by discovering things we might have overlooked?” states Cedric Kiefer, co-founder and creative lead at onformative.

In the midst of this transformative era where artificial intelligence is reshaping countless aspects of our lives, including the realm of creativity, we are asked to reevaluate and reimagine the creative process. Rather than viewing AI as a mere tool or an end result, what if we embrace it as a co-creator – an integral part of the inspiration and ideation journey? Expanding the diverse backgrounds and perspectives humans bring in, AI can offer unique interpretations and extended insights. By being curious and by engaging in a creative dialogue with AI, we open ourselves up to unexpected ideas that initiate fresh viewpoints, which may have otherwise remained hidden. This co-creation dynamic lies at the heart of onformative’s vision for the future of AI design tools.

The Technical Approach: Procedural Setup meets Algorithmic Design

The initial shapes in the tool are generated using a combination of procedural setup and algorithmic design. This approach allows for a certain level of control, enabling users to choose from organic to geometric forms that best suit their needs and align with their initial ideas. The generative nature of the shape creation opens up a vast space of possibilities, from individually adjusting complexity of the shapes to defining a general materiality, ensuring a unique experience each time the tool is used. A key aspect of developing the tool is making the inspiration process intuitively manageable and easily accessible. The app allows users to store and organize the individual perspectives they explore, creating a personal collection of references. Users can navigate through their saved snapshots, revisiting previous viewpoints and building upon them as their creative journey unfolds.

Speculative Research: Inspiration thought into Multiple Dimensions

The ability to save and revisit inspiration points within the tool opens up intriguing possibilities for cross-cultural analysis. In a collaborative setting, this feature could enable the creation of shared inspiration collections, allowing others to explore and learn from diverse perspectives. By examining the data generated through this tool, we may gain insights into how people from different regions, age groups, or backgrounds perceive and define inspiration. Clustering and analyzing these viewpoints could reveal fascinating patterns and trends, shedding light on the cultural dimensions of creativity.

Beyond its existence as a standalone tool, this concept could be deployed on large-scale media screens – as a constantly evolving wall of inspiration. This endless stream of creative visual input, tailored to specific domains, would provide a persistent source of ideas and stimuli for passersby. While the »AI Inspiration Tool« is designed to be flexible and adaptable, it can also be tailored to specific use cases and domains. By leveraging custom-trained models focused on particular topics or industries, the tool can provide targeted inspiration relevant to the unique needs and challenges of different fields. That is where the concept of the tool invites collaboration to be applied.

Sparking a Conversation: Initiating a Dialogue with AI – and with fellow Creatives

Cedric adds: “Well aware of the rapid rise of new AI design tools, we developed an approach that puts focus on open exploration and an inspirational journey to add a new quality to the creative process. Instead of generating directly from text to image, the »AI inspiration tool« offers room to discover unexpected new perspectives and in-depth exploration from abstract to more concrete, where the user decides when to stop, turn or continue the creative journey”.

By embracing AI as a co-creator and engaging in a playful dialogue, it unlocks new realms of inspiration. The »AI Inspiration Tool« represents a proactive step towards a future where technology is seamlessly integrated into the creative process. Through this project, onformative aim to spark a conversation about the evolving role of design tools and the exciting potential of human-AI collaboration in the pursuit of creativity that goes beyond using AI as a tool to generate final output.

Creative Direction & Concept: Cedric Kiefer
Design: Cedric Kiefer, Sam Care, Leo Romanski, Tsingyun Zhang
Production: Tobias Ziegler
Technical Direction: Henryk Wollik

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AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
AI Inspiration Tool
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