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AI For Set Design?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly emerged as a transformative force in creative fields, which is starting to include set design. While some herald AI as a game-changing tool for efficiency and creativity, others fear it may erode the essence of human artistry and threaten livelihoods. In this article, we explore the multifaceted impact of AI on set design, addressing the concerns of professionals while also examining its potential and future trajectory.
Important note: This is not a pro "AI should replace humans" post. Rather, I'll try to talk openly about the concerns that artists have, while proposing some ways it can be used to augment human creativity to help speed up your workflow, or help discover new ideas.
1. Concerns Among Set Designers
Job Security
For many set designers, the rise of AI brings an existential question: Will it take my job? Automation has already impacted industries like manufacturing, and similar concerns are now voiced in the arts. AI tools can draft, visualize, and even generate intricate designs faster than ever, potentially reducing the demand for human designers in certain roles.
Loss of Originality
Another significant worry is the potential loss of originality. AI, by design, learns from existing works to generate new ones. Critics argue that this could lead to derivative creations that lack the emotional depth and innovation found in human-designed sets. Can an algorithm truly interpret the nuances of a director’s vision or evoke the desired emotional response from an audience? Is Ai smart enough to visualize the choreography of a musical and design a set ready to support the weight of someone tap dancing on a faux piano? (not yet anyway)
Safety Issues
Speaking of tap dancing on a piano...are we ready to rely on AI to design a structure that will be artistically sound, functional and more importantly..... structurally SAFE? We've all seen some of the garbage images that AI is producing today. I certainly wouldn't trust it to design a structure and I'm putting a cast and crew on.
Intellectual Property Issues
AI models are often trained on massive datasets, which (depending on the source) may include copyrighted works. This has raised ethical questions about ownership. If an AI-generated design resembles a famous set piece, who is responsible? Designers fear their work could be used to train systems that ultimately replace them. For what it's worth, companies like Adobe are trying to ensure that their training is done ethically, with the ability for the artist to opt in or out, and even get compensated.
Over-Reliance on AI
There’s also a danger of creatives becoming overly reliant on AI, prioritizing convenience over craft. The risk is that set design becomes more about tweaking algorithmic outputs than about original artistic expression.
2. What AI Brings to the Table for Set Design
We don't get anywhere by horse anymore. Cars took over and here we are. If the same is to be said for AI, I think it's important to look at what AI IS good at.
Streamlined Workflows
AI excels at handling repetitive and time-consuming tasks. For example, AI tools can automatically generate realistic textures, calculate lighting effects, or scale designs to different dimensions. This can save countless hours, allowing designers to focus on the creative aspects of their work. I can't tell you how awesome it's been to upload the manual of a lighting board into GPT and then ask it questions to help me fix my patch issues. Life saver!
Cost Efficiency
School theaters, community productions, and smaller companies often operate on tight budgets. AI-powered design tools can lower costs by reducing the time needed for manual labor and by offering affordable visualization options. This one has to be handled carefully. With students, we have to balance learning the craft manually VS using the tools of the day to be competitive in the real world.
Enhanced Creativity
Far from stifling creativity, AI can act as a powerful brainstorming partner. Tools like generative design platforms can produce countless variations of a concept, sparking ideas that might not have emerged otherwise. Designers can then refine these ideas to suit the production’s specific needs. I recently played around with this idea by uploading a picture of my design stairwell for a set and asking the AI to generate different versions from various time periods for me.
Concerting Your Sketch To A Rendering
Advanced AI rendering tools can create hyper-realistic visualizations, helping directors, designers, and producers see exactly how a set will look before it’s built. This capability is particularly useful if you don't have 3D rendering skills. You can upload a picture of your sketch and ask the AI to render it in a more realistic style. It's still your design, you're just using the AI as a part of the process.
3. Speeding Up Your Workflow
Many set designers are already incorporating AI into their workflows with promising results. Below are some ways designers are using it to speed up their workflow (not do the work for them):
Rapid Prototyping:
Some designers use AI to create quick drafts of set layouts, which can then be refined manually. This allows them to experiment with multiple ideas in a fraction of the time.
Hybrid Workflows:
AI-generated designs are often just the starting point. Designers bring their expertise to refine these concepts, adding the human touch that AI cannot replicate.
Textures and Styles:
In my case, I use AI to generate textures for my 3D workflow. If I need a yellow brick road, I can either have AI add it to my final render, or I can have it create the yellow brick image that I can tile over some 3D geometry.
However, AI is not without its limitations. For example, it can struggle with abstract themes or fail to build cohesive narratives without human intervention. These challenges underscore the importance of collaboration between humans and machines.
Prompt: A set design for Guys and Dolls
Based on the title alone, this one is just a complete miss in every way.
Prompt: A theatre set design on stage. The set looks like a 1950's manhatten intersection at night. There is a newspaper stand on the left side and a theatre entrance in the middle with steps leading up to it. There are many neon signs on the buildings.
4. The Balancing Act: Embracing AI While Preserving Artistry
Skill Adaptation:
To thrive in an AI-influenced industry, set designers may need to adapt their skill sets. Learning to use AI tools effectively is becoming as essential as mastering traditional design techniques.
Ethical Advocacy:
Designers must advocate for ethical AI practices, such as ensuring fair compensation for artists whose works are used to train AI models. Supporting transparency in AI development is crucial for protecting intellectual property rights.
Human Creativity as the Core:
Ultimately, the success of AI in set design depends on how it’s used. When AI serves as a tool rather than a replacement, it can enhance human creativity rather than overshadow it. Designers must ensure that their unique vision remains at the heart of every project.
Prompt: A set design for the musical Oklahoma.
Speaking of terrible, there's this one....
Prompt: A theatre stage set on stage. There is an old wooden house, with cornfields painted in the background. A small shack is on the left side.
5. The Future of AI In Set Design
What does the future hold for AI in set design? It’s likely that we’ll see even more sophisticated tools capable of handling complex tasks, from animating moving set pieces to simulating audience sightlines in real-time. At the same time, AI’s growing influence raises questions about the role of human designers:
- Will AI democratize set design, making high-quality tools accessible to smaller productions?
- Could it unintentionally marginalize niche artistry in favor of efficiency?
The answers to these questions may very well shape the future of the industry. As we move forward, it’s up to designers, producers, and technologists to navigate these challenges together.
Prompt: A set design for the musical The Titanic.
While I don't think this works for that production, it does give me some interesting ideas for other things.
Prompt: A theatre stage set. There is a stairwell on the stage. The year is 1911. The stairs and wells of the set are made of brown wood. There is a statue.
In Conclusion...
AI is undoubtedly changing the landscape of all forms of design be it theatre sets, architecture or something like websites. While it brings exciting possibilities, it also raises valid concerns about job security, originality, and ethics. By embracing AI as a tool—not a replacement—designers can unlock new levels of creativity and efficiency. As the industry evolves, open dialogue and thoughtful adoption of technology will be key to ensuring a vibrant future for set design.
For fun, there are some of my experiments with a few well-known scripts. As you can see, simply asking for a set design doesn't cut it. I'll also note, that each of the "better" prompts took MANY attempts to get something even close. That said, I saw a lot of great images that we're excellent inspiration that I would be able to take and craft into my finished works.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.
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