Talk: DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING IN THE AGE OF AI

This event will see Hooman Shayani (Autodesk Research) and Manuel Jimenez Garcia & Gilles Retsin (UCL The Bartlett / Design Computation Lab) talk about design and manufacturing with AI. Hooman Shayani will cover CAD/CAM in the age of AI, while Manuel Jimenez Garcia and Gilles Retsin will focus on large scale additive manufacturing and robotics.

The event is part of a series designed to bring together artists, developers, designers, technologists and industry professionals to discuss the applications of artificial intelligence in the creative industries.
---

Hooman Shayani, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Autodesk Research

"CAD/CAM in the Age of AI: Designers’ Journey from Earth to Sky"

This talk focuses on the recent revolution in the design and manufacturing process with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. Beginning with a brief history of CAD/CAM, and going into an introduction to Generative Design, its definition, visions, and examples, the speaker will present how different branches, techniques and technologies related to AI, including Machine Learning, Evolutionary Computation, and Brain-Computer Interfaces has been and will be revolutionizing the design and manufacturing process in near future. It will be concluded with some notes on the socio-economic implications of such a revolution on future of work, education and social justice.

Hooman Shayani is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at Autodesk Research. He is part of the Design Research team in the office of the CTO, working on Dreamcatcher project, among other projects. His research at Autodesk has been focused on Generative Design, light-weighting, simulation and optimisation for additive manufacturing in different industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, tooling, and sports. Hooman joined Autodesk in 2014 through acquisition of Within Technologies. Prior to Autodesk, he was co-founder and Head of R&D at Within Technologies. He has co-founded other companies in the areas of Additive Manufacturing, product customization, and AI. During his career, he has been a university lecturer, managing director, robot/embedded system designer, developer, and 3D animator. He has a BSc. in Computer Science from BIHE, a MSc. in Intelligent Systems from UCL, and a PhD in Evolvable Hardware from UCL. He has published papers on evolutionary algorithms, bio-inspired computing, evolvable hardware, and patents on Additive Manufacturing and Generative Design.
-----

Manuel Jimenez Garcia and Gilles Retsin, Lecturers at UCL The Bartlett / Design Computation Lab co-directors

"Computational Design for Robotic Manufacturing"

This talk will present the work of the Design Computation Lab, a research laboratory at The Bartlett, UCL developing computational design methods, software and platforms for a wide range of applications in architecture, design and construction. We will cover an emerging body of design research, with a specific focus on large scale additive manufacturing and robotics. The work ranges from custom developed design software for robotic 3D printing, to additive assembly, robot-human collaboration and digital materials.

Manuel Jimenez García is the co-founder and principal of madMdesign, a computational design practice based in London, and the co-founder of Nagami, a robotic manufacturing startup based in Spain. Most of his projects have studied the integration of computational processes in material tectonics. His work has been exhibited worldwide in venues such as Centre Pompidou (Paris), Design Exchange (Toronto), Royal Academy of Arts (London), and Zaha Hadid Design Gallery (London). Alongside his practice, Manuel is a lecturer at The Bartlett School of Architecture UCL (London). He is programme director of B.Pro MSc/MRes Architectural Computation (AC), and co-founder of Design Computation Lab. He also curates Plexus, a multidisciplinary lecture series based on computational design.

Gilles Retsin is a London based architect and designer investigating new architectural models that engage with the potential of increased computational power and fabrication to generate buildings and objects with a previously unseen structure, detail and materiality. The practice has developed numerous provocative proposals for international competitions. His work has been acquired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and he has exhibited internationally in museums such as the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil-am-Rhein, Design Exchange Toronto and the Zaha Hadid Gallery in London. He is Program Director of the B.Pro Architectural Design (AD) at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London.

----

The schedule for the evening will be as follows.

6.30pm - 7pm Arrive
7.00pm-7.10pm Introduction
7.10pm-7.50pm Hooman Shayani + Q&A
7.50pm-8.30pm Manuel Jimenez García and Gilles Retsin + Q&A