My first instinct on taking an AI project was; No way! But then I jumped …
— What considerations did the studio have on taking and designing an AI news product?
The doubts are on a fundamental human level and AI face us with the question; — What does it mean to be human? Like the novel; Clara and the sun by Kazuo Ischiguro resonates around.
But whether we like it or not it’s here; “AI or die trying”, Wired says. I had to adapt too and this project is my training.
Most of the studios news clients works with AI today and about 60% of Reuters newsroom uses AI. The industry and world is in a transformation.
The studio had one clear boundary on designing for an AI news project; Human first! To my best knowledge that is; human creative direction, design and trusted news sources.
Design is cross thinking
The softs skills AI cant replace, when Forbes defines it are;
- Emotional intelligence
- Persuasion And Influence:
- Critical Thinking
- Relationship-Building
This is also skills designers works with. The studio gave a talk at SND 47 Berkeley, California for The Society For News Design, where we also show cased how the studio work with these soft skills.
The studio was also inspired by the art exhibition; The Irreplaceable Human, at Louisiana, the modern museum of art in Copenhagen that asks what creativity is in the age of AI. The exhibitions reminded me of; cross thinking, when solving a problem.
In the design process and cross thinking we use creative skills such as:
- Imagination
- History
- Culture
- Emotional intelligence
- Critical Thinking
How to design with AI
AI is here. Humans are here. And we have to cooperate to the benefit of Mankind.
What to design with AI
AI is excellent for exploration. It can help you generate ideas, research and test creative directions and improve speed.
- Video concept
The studio tested Heygen and Grok and based on the exploration we could create our own video concept. - Motion design
To speed up every day motion design for video, visuals, graphics and drawings AI can assist with adobe express or canva. - Design scale
The studio tested how Figma support to speed up the process of prototyping design with automation this is useful on repetitive tasks of design objects of large scale. - Research and UX design
Many UX design task can be done with AI today by streamlining the research. In Figma, the studios tool for digital projects these tasks can be more automated today.
What to design with humans
Design needs meaning. Design is direction, plan, solving and communication and to ping pong ideas together.
- Uniqness
To direct what makes a brand and product competitive, trustworthy and likeable. - Human touch
AI can’t feel what news photos, videos or stories should communicate emotionally. - Typeface design
AI can do fonts but not great type. Work out direction and typeface design with humans. - Colour system
AI does the math but colours needs to be designed and experienced with the eyes. - Design and style manuals
The studio learn that AI requires clear guides and more context to understand.
Humans can learn AI to make mistakes and see the quality in those.
The studio have experience designing for new AI technology from the project; News without noise, New York.
Stay tuned for the launch!