Sam Fox School to Host Second AI + Design Symposium
2024-02-16 • Sam Fox School
The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts is hosting the AI + Design Symposium again this spring following the event’s inaugural run in 2023. The one-day event brings together practitioners, researchers, and the WashU community to explore the growing field of artificial intelligence and how it intersects with design.
This year’s event, themed “Learning from AI,” will take place March 29 in Weil Hall. Panel discussions will address the creative design process and machine-augmented vision, and invite practitioners to share their insights on how AI might transform design in the coming years. Speakers Ian Bogost, Ewan Branda, Carla Diana, Catherine Griffiths, Jonathan Hanahan, Karel Klein, Amelia Winger-Bearskin, and Andrew Witt bring a variety of experiences in art, architecture, education, research, and software development.
Visiting Assistant Professor Matthew Allen, who is leading the organization of the event, shared that the symposium raises a crucial question: What perspective has AI offered on design itself? Allen draws a parallel to Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour’s 1972 book, “Learning from Las Vegas,” where they set out to learn about the bewildering transformation of the city’s built environment. He shared that the publication inspired a generation of designers with a common set of questions that informed theory and practice. Utilizing the same lens, the symposium asks what learning from AI may yield in terms of creative practice.
The symposium will include two panel discussions along with a reception and gallery talk. For more details and to register, visit the Sam Fox School calendar.
Krishna Bharat, technologist and innovator, delivered the keynote address at the 2023 AI + Design symposium. Photo: Whitney Curtis / Washington University.
The inaugural AI + Design symposium was held April 3, 2023. Photo: Whitney Curtis / Washington University.
The inaugural AI + Design symposium was held April 3, 2023. Photo: Audrey Westcott / Washington University.
Mar 29, 2024, 10am – 3:30pm • Kuehner Court, Anabeth and John Weil Hall
AI + Design Symposium: Learning from AI
The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts is hosting the second annual AI + Design symposium, “Learning from AI.” This event provides a unique opportunity for both students and faculty to delve into the intersections of artificial intelligence and design. Panel discussions will address the creative design process and machine-augmented vision, focusing on understanding how perspective gained from AI can impact and influence creative practices.
The symposium raises a crucial question: What perspectives has AI offered on design itself? Drawing a parallel to Robert Venturi, Steven Izenour, and Denise Scott Brown’s exploration of the changing role of architecture in Las Vegas amid a transforming built environment, we can now turn to new AI systems for insights into ongoing transformations. The symposium invites architects, artists, and designers working with AI to share their experiences and speculate on how they envision artificial intelligence shaping the future of design.
Presented by the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts sessions will take place in Weil Hall and are open to the WashU community. Support provided by the Ralph J. Nagel Dean’s Fund.