AI interpretations of iconic modernist furniture is brought to life for exhibition in barcelona

dottod collective fuses ai, furniture design, and digital art

On view at the Il·lacions Design Gallery in Barcelona, the Icons’ Replicants exhibition delves into the intersection of AI, furniture design, and digital art. Created by DOTTOD Collective, the collection showcases real-life furniture and objects resulting from AI’s visual interpretations of iconic design pieces by Enzo Mari, Frank Gehry, Alvar Aalto, and others. Official descriptions of the iconic objects served as text-based prompts for an intelligent machine, which resulted in AI-generated images that were then brought to life by the design duo who crafted functional prototypes of the furniture objects — from Gehry’s Contour Chair to Andre Ricard’s ashtray.

Following the culmination of the exhibition at Il·lacions on September 15, the prototypes will be available for purchase on the gallery e-shop.

DOTTOD Collective exhibits Icons’ Replicants at Il·lacions Design Gallery | image © Carles Roig

‘icons’ replicants’ on display at Il·lacions Design Gallery

Bridging the gap between digital and physical worlds, DOTTOD Collective engaged in continuous negotiation with the AI-generated artifacts, seeking to strike a balance between feasibility and fidelity, and materiality and surreality. Throughout the process, the designers maintained the integrity of the original designs while embracing the AI’s vision. In a shift of design paradigm moving away from the classic methodology, the design team worked to bring the AI’s vision to life while maintaining the functionality and integrity of the original designs.

DOTTOD collective has established an online gallery showcasing both the digital and physical works of Icons’ Replicants. This virtual exhibition space serves as a platform for both the AI-generated images and physical prototypes, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between the digital and physical realms in design.

replica of Alvar Alto’s Stool 60 | image © Carles Roig

One of the core aspects of Icons’ Replicants is the role of AI as both the curator and creator. By delegating part of the practice to this new tool, utilizing an AI to interpret and recreate iconic designs, DOTTOD Collective has been able to inject is creative input into other aspects of the process. ‘This approach highlights the importance of collaboration between AI and human designers, as they dialogue between the digital creations and their physical counterparts,’ notes the design team.

replica of Enzo Mari’s iconic chair ‘Sedia P’ | image © Carles Roig

Contour Chair by Frank Gehry | image © Heritage Auctions

replica of Frank Gehry’s Contour Chair |  image ©Jorgelina Zabert

replica of Andre Ricard’s ashtray | image © Carles Roig

replica of Flowerpot VP7 | image © Carles Roig

original Sedia P by Enzo Mari | image courtesy of Stefano Colli

original Stool 60 by Alvaro Alto | image courtesy of Stefano Colli

original Copenhagen Ashtray by Andre Ricard | image courtesy of Mobles 114

original Flowerpot VP9 Cobalt blue by Verner Panton | image courtesy of &tradition

project info:

name: Icons’ Replicants
designer: DOTTOD Collective

gallery: Il·lacions Design Gallery

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom