Agnès Guiu, senior aircraft interior designer at Agnès Guiu Design, shares her thoughts on AI, augmented reality, and cabin trends.
How do you feel about the potential of AI for design?
I feel that using AI for design applications is like ‘riding the tiger’! It is a rather ambiguous feeling combining both excitement and slight reluctance or mistrust. On one side, I find AI extremely exciting and challenging. To explore new possibilities, shapes, directions, horizons, to make the impossible possible, is a dream for a designer and provides an incredible feeling of total freedom in creativity. For instance, I am amazed by the quality of AI renderings presented by talented designers and architects on LinkedIn. AI offers exponential perspectives and it is or will be extremely hard to resist it.
On the other side, the problem is the idea of control. If the tool takes so much space in the process of conceiving a project, then to what extent is this still my project? If AI starts to suggest, propose, offer, how long shall I consider myself as a creator and not a follower? AI will become extremely addictive: where shall I put the limits? Shall I want or be able to stop; I’m not so sure!
Are there uses for augmented reality (AR) in design?
Absolutely! For instance AR provides the client with an immediate, subjective and immersive understanding of the project. It also gives you the possibility to enhance, to emphasise your concept with the view to provide the best. AR helps to push things beyond your limits.
What other technologies could benefit the design process?
Immersive design with interactive headsets could definitely benefit the design process. You create a concept and can check immediately if it is OK or not. It gives you better control over what you design. However, I think we should find something lighter such as connected glasses. Considering what happened with smartphones, these new tools will soon become a part of designers’ everyday life.
What cabin innovations have caught your eye recently?
Lighting, display technologies, interactive windows and shades and new materials.
What emerging trends will impact cabin design in 2024?
Wider open spaces, more colourful environments, more welcoming furniture design, bringing more life aboard.
What are your hopes for EBACE and/or Aircraft Interiors Expo?
A creative exchange of inspiring ideas.
This interview was conducted by Izzy Kington and first published in the March/April 2024 edition of Business Jet Interiors International as part of the Design Forum feature.
