Enquiry
My passion for nature and science shapes my identity, and I see climate change as a pressing issue that I wish to explore further in my work.
Coming from an engineering background, I possess the skills to comprehend and analyze data, enabling me to uncover hidden water footprints in various products and foods. My goal is to illustrate to audiences how our everyday consumption impacts the Earth’s resources.
While I am still familiarizing myself with text-to-image AI technology, I am hopeful about its potential to offer fresh insights into addressing the climate crisis. Although I have doubts about AI’s capacity to express genuine creativity — as I believe creativity is a uniquely human trait — I wanted to collaborate with AI to enhance my storytelling and effectively communicate climate-related messages.
I’ve come to realize that people have limited attention spans for a visualised data, which has led me to explore different storytelling approaches in climate data. Additionally, I’ve found that using a surrealistic approach with AI can create engaging yet thought-provoking dystopian scenarios, making the data storytelling more captivating. Although, it should be accompanied by careful consideration of the ethical implications and societal impact.
Overall, experimenting with a new storytelling approaches while questioning the importance to maintain an understanding of the limitations of relying on AI for creative expression was valuable.
References
1. Maurer, Luna, (2013) Conditional design workbook
I find myself a bit confused about where to place artificial intelligence (AI) in my workload. I know and use AI features in graphic design software to automate many design processes. But I think AI’s ability to create images is not fully developed yet, and the results are often not very pleasing.
In Maurer’s Conditional Design Workbook, Gerstner suggests a shift in graphic design from focusing on the final product to emphasizing the process, from seeing design as an object to viewing it as a tool or machine. This leads us to ask: who truly originates the idea? In conceptual art, the personal touch comes from the artist, starting the creative journey. Following this idea, I experimented with using text-to-image AI, specifically Microsoft’s Copilot, to convey my message.
Building on Gerstner’s ideas and the principles of conditional design, the resulting images serve as a medium for discussion, inviting feedback from the wider world. This feedback loop, essential to the process, influences the creators themselves. Adding AI-generated images to my project produced surreal scenes that captured attention in my small publication, emphasizing the importance of using our planet’s resources wisely
2. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, pp. 219-253, Walter Benjamin
In “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” Benjamin dives deep into the potential downsides and significant impacts of these technological advances. He carefully unpacks the concept of a surplus of “trash” art, stemming from the sheer volume of artistic output compared to the limited number of truly skilled creators. Furthermore, Benjamin examines how technology shapes the reception of art and redefines the artist’s role, suggesting that while it expands creative possibilities and facilitates widespread distribution, it also alters the delicate balance between the artist, the audience, and the artwork itself.
Inspired by these insights, I felt I need to take a journey to explore my relationship with the latest technological advancement in design: AI. Which I don’t really have an experience in text to image. Along this path, I’ve come to realize the importance of charting my own course in navigating the realm of AI, approaching it with baby steps and accept both the opportunities it offers and the challenges it presents.
3. Can Machines create art?, Mark Coeckelbergh
Coeckelbergh’s investigation into whether machines can create art touches upon a question that occupies our minds daily. Personally, I find myself unsure about AI’s ability to express genuine creativity. While I believe creativity is inherently human, I also feel anxious about dismissing the potential for diverse collaborations between humans and machines in art creation.
The distinction Coeckelbergh makes between expressivist and mimetic perspectives on artistic creation raises deep questions about creativity in an era dominated by AI. As machines attempt to imitate human creativity, there’s concern about the authenticity of the design process. For example, imagine a scenario where a robot produces portraits mimicking human drawings. Can these algorithmically-generated portraits evoke the same emotions as those created by humans? Moreover, when the origin of a piece is hidden by AI, how does it impact our perception of its authenticity?
Coeckelbergh’s insights prompt profound reflection on the consequences of AI’s integration into graphic design. While AI offers undeniable efficiencies and capabilities, it also poses existential threats to our craft. This article has confirmed and challenged my view on AI, leading me to realize the importance of addressing these challenges directly. As designers, it’s our responsibility to preserve the integrity and vitality of graphic design with the technological advancements.
4. Representing nature: art and climate change, Malcolm Miles
My work in the first week aims to shed light on the hidden water footprints of everyday products, creating awareness of our individual impact on natural resources. As a designer fueled by a love for nature and science, I’m captivated by the article’s exploration of how art intersects with environmental concerns. I’m excited by the potential of art to drive social change, but I’m also mindful of the obstacles and experimental in translating artistic expression into real-world impact.
I strongly agree with the article’s discussion on the fusion of art and environmental activism and the idea that art can act as a catalyst for societal transformation. And gave me the idea of infusing my designs with emotive storytelling can effectively convey the urgency of climate-related issues.
Climate change is not merely a scientific problem; it’s a multifaceted societal and cultural challenge will effect our future. Whenever I think about the future I want to becaome the Miles’ vision of a designer, who is committed to addressing climate change as a complex social and cultural challenge through creative solutions grounded in the intersection of art and environmental activism.
5. Roots by Ai Weiwei
Weiwei’s sculptures stand as powerful symbols, reminding us of the profound impact human activity has on the environment, particularly in terms of deforestation and climate change. Much like Weiwei, I am driven by the desire to shed light on the devastating consequences of our overconsumption and its detrimental effects on our climate. In my exploration of water footprints, I aim to dig deeper into the symbolic representation of nature’s destruction caused by our unsustainable consumption patterns. To achieve this, I am employing the use of surrealistic AI imagery as a tool for visual storytelling. By harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, I seek to create alternate realities that vividly portray the consequences of our actions on the environment. Through this approach, I hope to provide viewers with a visceral experience, one that goes beyond mere data and statistics, and instead evokes a deeply emotional response.