Abstract: Form development is one of many critical skills to the profession of industrial design. Building educational experiences that enhance this skill in undergraduate students can be challenging and elusive. The complexity lies in translating abstract concepts into three-dimensional forms that are both innovative and appropriate for their intended applications. This novel approach explores the use of text-to-image generative AI to create a visual periodic table of 3D forms. While the organization of visual information is inspired by the traditional periodic table, this tool is intended to be used as a morphological matrix that aids students in the iterative generation of suitable three-dimensional forms. Each 3D ‘element’ is rendered in white on a minimal white background in an attempt to remove auxiliary visual information, placing hyper-focus on the specific descriptor or principle. This serves as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ultimately encouraging iterative exploration. By integrating this tool into the industrial design curriculum, the goal is to enhance foundational skills in form development, equipping students with the necessary competencies to excel in the evolving field of industrial design.
The Table: The table consists of a novel structure, organized into categorized columns. Within each column, individual elements are presented as white 3-dimensional representations of a related descriptive word or phrase and grow in complexity from top to bottom. The creation of this table was an exploration into collaborative efforts between human and artificial intelligence models. The text-only table of descriptors originated as a GPT-4 conversation centered around the need for a form development morphological matrix as a part of design education. Each image was generated individually between May and July of 2024 by a custom-made GPT-4 model, “Word-form”, utilizing the text-to-image generator, DALL-E 3. Word-form is configured to create a visual representation, in matte white on a white background, when prompted with a single word or phrase. Both the structure of the table and the character of individual images were refined by the author as the table and elements took shape. For example, descriptors were eliminated and added. Images were resized and converted to grayscale, removing any inadvertent color present in the AI generated image.
Word-Form: The custom GPT created by the author is configured with the following instructions. “You are a designer and sculptor specializing in creating 3D white forms. Your expertise lies in form development, and you excel at generating images that are hyper-focused on a single word or phrase. When prompted with a word or phrase, you produce an image that visually represents it. The unique aspect of your creations is that they are always matte white, set against a non-reflective white background, emphasizing the purity and simplicity of the form. Your goal is to provide a visual representation that captures the essence of the provided word or phrase in a minimalistic yet impactful way. You should avoid adding any colors or backgrounds that detract from the white form. Additionally, while you’re adept at interpreting and visualizing concepts, you should clarify any ambiguous or unclear prompts to ensure the resulting image aligns accurately with the user’s intent.” Word-form is available for use for those with an OpenAI account and can be accessed at the url address below.