Design for Phygital Living Beyond the Body

As we convene in Milan for Design Week, a confluence of creativity and innovation unfolds before us. This edition of RADAR by RED-EYE magazine casts a spotlight on the burgeoning influence of AI co-created visuals in Design, prompting us to re-envision the concept of living in a rapidly evolving digital era.

AI, a term once relegated to the realms of science fiction, has become an intimate partner in Design, pushing the boundaries of creativity beyond human limits. This synergy between artificial intelligence and human capabilities is giving birth to a new concept of living, one that seamlessly merges the human and post-human experience.

In the heart of this transformation is the emergence of 'phygital' spaces—environments where the physical and digital converge. These are realms where smart homes adjust to our emotions, furniture responds to our presence, and rooms transform with a mere voice command. AI complements our living spaces and it converses with them, imbuing them with a previously unimaginable dynamism.

AI Artwork by Viola Masella Somethingstrange

Yet, the question remains: what design objects will we need in this post-human future? The objects that will inhabit our living spaces in the years to come will likely be adaptive, multifunctional, and inherently intelligent. Imagine a chair that changes form to suit your current mood or task, or a table that can grow or shrink at will. In the design of the future, the distinction between ‘tool’ and ‘assistant’ will blur, and objects will not only serve us but collaborate with us.

Design in a post-human era may seem far-flung, but we are already witnessing its early manifestations. Take, for example, the advent of generative design, where AI models create options that no human mind would envision. These designs are optimized for various parameters—efficiency, cost, materials, environmental impact—suggesting that the role of the designer is shifting from creator to curator, guiding the AI in the right direction and then selecting from the wealth of options it presents.

Hints of these new dimensions in the idea of living are evident in the ways we interact with our current technology. Smartphones and voice assistants have paved the way for a more integrative living experience, foreshadowing the phygital homes of the future. In these spaces, AI will be integral, functioning as both the engine and the aesthetic, crafting environments that anticipate our needs and desires before we even express them.

AI Artwork by Ariel Rosso Ephemeralariel

The human body has always been the central measure of our lived experience; it is how we interact with the world around us. But as we integrate more with technology, our sensory experiences begin to extend beyond the flesh. Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) have begun to redefine presence, touch, and interaction, heralding a future where the body's physical limitations are transcended.

This dematerialization of our experiences, however, does not imply a loss but a transformation. Our physical bodies could adapt through enhanced senses. For instance, haptic technology could enable us to feel the texture of virtual objects, while brain-computer interfaces could allow us to control digital environments with our thoughts. In a phygital world, the body may become more like a node in a network rather than the sole vessel for our consciousness.

Design, in this context, becomes a practice that extends beyond shaping the physical world and instead, designs experiences that straddle both realms. Designers will no longer solely focus on ergonomics for the human form but will also consider the ergonomics of the mind and the digital self. The creation of objects will move from static forms to dynamic, interactive experiences that respond to and evolve with the user's input.

Design as a projectual practice will expand to encompass the programming of virtual spaces and the crafting of digital interactions that are as rich and nuanced as those in the physical world. These spaces will need to be designed with a deep understanding of human psychology and sensory needs, taking cues from the discipline of UX/UI but extending into something more holistic, encompassing the full human experience.

Moreover, the process of Design itself may become more collaborative with AI partners, where algorithms offer suggestions, simulate outcomes, and even understand emotional responses to create designs that are both functionally and emotionally resonant. This will enable designers to iterate and explore a broader spectrum of possibilities, ushering in an era where the 'impossible' becomes just another design challenge to overcome.

The essence of Design in a phygital world may evolve to become more about crafting relationships between the digital and physical selves, enabling a harmony where one complements the other. It will need to consider not just how we live, but how we feel, think, and dream within spaces that are neither fully physical nor entirely digital but an amalgam of both.

AI Artwork by Hola Chumpy & Holalexandre

The intersection between AI and Design also raises profound questions about the essence of creativity and authorship. If an AI can design a living space or an object that evokes emotional resonance, does it hold the same artistic value as something created by human hands and minds? As we navigate this brave new world of Design, we are forced to reconsider our preconceived notions of what it means to create and inhabit our spaces.

Looking ahead, we can anticipate a future where Design transcends its traditional limits, and the line between animate and inanimate objects becomes increasingly indistinct. In this bold new era of living, our homes and the objects within them will become extensions of ourselves, learning from us, growing with us, and ultimately, becoming part of us.

The journey into the post-human era of Design is about predicting the future as well as shaping it. As curators, we have the privilege and the responsibility to steer the application of AI in directions that enhance human experience, prioritize sustainability, and celebrate the beauty of innovation.

As we explore the streets of Milan this Design Week, let us think about the possibilities that AI co-creation brings to our craft. May we find inspiration in the fusion of technology and human creativity, and may our designs reflect not only what we need but who we aspire to become in the phygital world of tomorrow

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AI-Generated text edited by Gloria Maria Cappelletti, editor in chief, RED-EYE

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