The unexpected link between Wimbledon, VAR and luxury design
Just a few weeks ago, there was news that after 147 years, Wimbledon will be replacing line judges with AI. On the one hand, I can understand the desire for perfection. Afterall, professional sport, much like VAR in football, is a business first, and (sadly) a sport second. Hundreds of thousands of pounds sometimes rest on getting decisions right. But how does this effect our human experience and enjoyment of the sport as spectators?
AI changes ‘the beautiful game’
Over recent years, my love for football has waned, and I think it correlates with the introduction of technology. It's clearly something that the footballing world is aware of; in June, the Premier League polled their shareholders at their AGM on the use of VAR. Although the votes favoured its continuation, it was recognised that there needed to be significant improvements in how and when it was used, to ensure optimal experience for both supporters and players.
So, what does this have to do with interior design? AI is a topic that is widely discussed in design. Afterall, tools are being developed rapidly to ‘help’ accelerate the design process. But much like sport, there is a sweet spot where mechanisation provides efficiencies, but at a certain stage, what it generates is stale, inhuman and boring.
The value of art is in the story of the artist
We’ve seen AI produce a perfect replica of a Van Gogh painting. But where is the value in that. Art is a combination of the physical space and the story of the artist. Van Gogh is not interesting because of the image, it’s fascinating because of the individual and the personality of the individual expression. For me, design is the same. With the increasing development of AI, I think is striving for perfection is increasingly unimportant. We should be striving for purpose and value. Providing clients with fantastic outcomes, whilst enjoying our craft.
We design for the passion of the process
Every designer I meet, got into design because they are passionate about the process, and it is important we don’t develop tools that erode that passion. Equally, from my experience, my clients are passionate about their line of business, and they want to imprint their DNA on the projects they create. You get this through a human process, aided by tools. I am not anti-tools and innovation. Quite the opposite. I simply think that we need to be mindful that design doesn’t lose its soul as technological advancements wash over the industry.
Art and design have never been about perfection
As we move forwards, we must always question technology. Design and art have never been about perfection, at least not the process. In fact, the best outcomes often come from not getting it right first time. We use tools that enhance our work whilst retaining the things that are part of why we love what we do.
Whilst I may still find myself captivated by the women’s or men’s finals at Wimbledon next year, I wonder if I will connect with it in quite the same way, knowing that the purpose of the game is, in part, financially driven perfection. I wonder if I’ll miss the intrigue and suspense of a critical decision being called by a skilled human and the reactions of the players and crowd. Afterall, would John McEnroe’s infamous rants in the 80’s be quite so entertaining if aimed at an inscrutable machine.