Explore how AI can revolutionise design! Learn about our "Co-Design with AI" workshop using tools like Midjourney, Runway ML & ElevenLabs to create provocative and unconventional designs.
Abstract
This article details a workshop, “Co-Design with AI,” conducted during the Seminari Interdisciplinari week in February 2024. Led by Leonardo Angelucci, Antonella Autuori, and Matteo Subet, the workshop challenged six student groups to develop projects that deliberately subverted conventional design principles through the innovative application of artificial intelligence tools.
Concept
The core concept revolved around utilising imaginative thinking alongside AI instruments to produce designs that actively contradict the tenets of Gute Form – a Bauhaus principle emphasising functionality and aesthetic simplicity. Instead of adhering to established norms, participants were encouraged to explore unconventional forms, functions, and aesthetics, even embracing provocative design choices. The aim was to push beyond perceived realism and into realms of deliberate artistic deviation.
Process Development
The workshop employed a multi-faceted approach, integrating several AI platforms throughout the creative process. Initial image generation leveraged Midjourney’s text-to-image capabilities. These images then served as inputs for video creation using Runway ML, which facilitated both image-and-text-to-video conversion and offered tools like Motion Brush and Frame Interpolation to refine movement. ElevenLabs.ai was used for text-to-speech generation, adding an auditory dimension to the projects. Finally, soundscapes were created through Melobytes (image-to-sound) and Nino (text-to-sound), further enriching the sensory experience of the designs.
Note
The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for students to engage with AI not as a replacement for creative thinking, but as a powerful tool for exploring design possibilities beyond conventional boundaries. The results demonstrated the potential of co-designing with artificial intelligence to challenge established aesthetic and functional paradigms.
How to cite this page:
Subet, Matteo (2024). Co-Design with AI. Retrieved on 18 December 2025 from zumat.ch/projects/co-design_with_ai.html