An imagined conversation with a retail designer and a machine learning bot about how AI will shape the way we work in the very near future.
Me I'm a retail designer, how will AI affect my role in the future?
Machine learning As a retail designer, AI is likely to have a significant impact on your role in several ways.
Me Go on…….
Machine learning Alright, first up……..
Design Automation: AI can streamline the design process by automating repetitive tasks, such as generating layout options, rendering 3D models, or creating mood boards. This allows designers to focus more on the creative aspects and strategic planning.
Personalised Customer Experiences: AI-powered analytics can help you understand customer behaviour and preferences, enabling you to design retail spaces that cater to specific demographics or individual preferences. This might involve incorporating features like interactive displays, personalised recommendations, or dynamic layouts based on real-time data.
Data-driven Decision Making: AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data to provide insights into consumer trends, market demands, and competitive landscapes. By leveraging this information, you can make informed design decisions that align with business objectives and maximise the effectiveness of your retail spaces.
Sustainability and Efficiency: AI can help optimise resource usage and energy consumption in retail designs, contributing to sustainable practices. This might involve using algorithms to optimise lighting and HVAC systems, designing eco-friendly materials, or creating layouts that minimise waste and maximise space utilisation.
Collaborative Tools: AI-powered collaboration platforms can facilitate communication and teamwork among designers, architects, and other stakeholders. These tools may include features such as real-time editing, version control, and AI-driven suggestions for design improvements, streamlining the collaborative process and enhancing productivity.
Adaptation to Changing Trends: AI can assist in monitoring and predicting trends in retail design, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve and adapt your designs accordingly. By analysing social media, consumer behaviour, and industry publications, AI algorithms can identify emerging preferences and help you incorporate them into your designs.
So, in summary to your question, while AI will undoubtedly bring changes to the retail design industry, it also presents exciting opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and creativity. By embracing AI technologies and integrating them into your workflow, you can enhance your capabilities as a designer and deliver exceptional experiences for your clients and their customers.
Me I feel like I’m pretty onboard with that, if it improves the creative process and helps generate better outcomes for our clients and the people that use our spaces, I’m in.
Machine learning I know man, it’s sick!
Me OK, something more knarley for you, can AI help me get NZ building code approval, without any RFI's?
Machine learning Sweet! While AI can definitely assist in streamlining certain aspects of the design and approval process, obtaining building code approval in New Zealand as we know involves adherence to strict regulatory standards but also human oversight and expertise. However, AI can still play a role in supporting this process in several ways:
Code Compliance Checking: AI algorithms can help identify potential code violations by analysing design plans and comparing them against relevant building codes and regulations. By automating this process, AI can flag potential issues early on, allowing designers to make necessary adjustments to ensure compliance.
Documentation and Reporting: AI-powered tools can assist in generating comprehensive documentation and reports that demonstrate compliance with building codes and regulations. By automating the creation of these documents, it can help streamline the approval process and reduce the likelihood of RFIs from Council.
Simulation and Analysis: AI-driven simulations and analysis tools can assess the structural integrity, energy efficiency, and other critical aspects of building designs to ensure they meet code requirements. By leveraging these algorithms to perform the analysis, designers can identify potential compliance issues and address them proactively.
Knowledge Management: AI-powered knowledge management systems can provide designers with access to up-to-date information and resources related to building codes and regulations. By centralising this knowledge and making it easily accessible, AI can help designers make informed decisions that facilitate compliance with regulatory standards.
What we can say is that while AI can support the building code approval process, it's essential to recognise that human expertise and judgment are still indispensable (Hurrah!). Designers must use AI tools as aids rather than replacements for thorough review and analysis. Additionally, regulatory authorities may require direct human involvement in the approval process to ensure compliance with all relevant standards and regulations.
Me Ok, only got time for one more question and it’s the big scary one. Will AI create more jobs in retail design, or will it result in fewer?
Machine learning Great question……the impact of AI on job creation in retail design is complex and multifaceted, and it can vary depending on a range of factors such as industry dynamics, technological advancements, and organisational strategies. Let me give you some potential scenarios:
Automation of Routine Tasks: AI can automate repetitive and mundane tasks in retail design, such as generating floor plans or conducting data analysis. While this may reduce the need for certain administrative roles, it can also free up designers' time to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their work, potentially leading to higher-value job roles.
Emergence of New Roles: The adoption of AI in retail design may give rise to new job roles that specialise in AI integration, data analysis, or the development of AI-driven design solutions. These roles may require a combination of design expertise and technical skills, creating opportunities for professionals with interdisciplinary backgrounds.
Enhanced Efficiency and Innovation: AI can enable designers to work more efficiently and explore innovative design solutions, leading to increased demand for design services. As businesses recognise the value of AI in enhancing customer experiences and driving competitive advantage, they may invest more resources in retail design, potentially creating additional job opportunities in the industry.
Shift in Skill Requirements: The widespread adoption of AI in retail design may require designers to acquire new skills and adapt to evolving technologies. Designers who are proficient in AI tools and techniques may be in high demand, while those who are unwilling or unable to upskill may face challenges in remaining competitive in the job market.
Collaborative Opportunities: AI can facilitate collaboration among designers, architects, data scientists, and other professionals, leading to multidisciplinary teamwork and knowledge sharing. This collaborative environment may create opportunities for cross-functional roles and interdisciplinary career paths within the field of retail design.
So, in response to the big scary question, whilst AI has the potential to automate certain tasks and reshape job roles within the retail design industry, it can also stimulate innovation, create new opportunities, and enhance the overall value proposition of design services. Therefore, the net effect on job creation in retail design is likely to depend on how organisations and professionals adapt to and leverage AI technologies to drive business growth and innovation.
Me Listening to you I’d say that if you’re not already on the bus, you’ve been left at the bus stop, doomed to go backwards at walking pace!
Me Thank you, machine learning, great insights!
Machine learning You are welcome.
Note – the first draft of this article on AI was written in collaboration with Chat GPT. It took me about one minute to pose the questions and receive these answers to generate it, something that would have probably taken weeks to do if I was preparing and researching it all myself. In fact, I probably would have not even managed to complete it. But I can see that using machine learning raises our productivity immeasurably.
Better get on that bus quick!
Murray Jervis
Director – Interior Design | Design Leader NZ
GHD Design
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