Thematic Exhibition ‘Design with AI’ Open to the Public Since November 1
Design with Artificial Intelligence – Heritage & Horizons
Over the past few months, many volunteers have worked on the thematic exhibition ‘Design with AI – Heritage and Horizons’. The creator and curator of the exhibition is Bart van Lotringen, Director of Design at DAF Trucks.
The idea originated when the DAF Design Center donated part of its (old) archive to the DAF Museum. Combined with the fact that Bart had already been actively experimenting with Artificial Intelligence for some time, this sparked the concept. When he later posted an AI-enhanced version of the introduction of the DAF 600 passenger car from 1958 online, the overwhelming response motivated him to tell the story of AI.
At the exhibition (Past and Future…), visitors can see how design—and later the DAF Design Center—has influenced DAF’s development, and how Artificial Intelligence could have contributed, as well as how it will play a role now and in the future. The exhibition uses many moving images (some generated by AI) and spoken text to tell the story. Images, whether still or moving, are literally brought to life through AI.
Scale models and a full-size wireframe model of the DAF 95 make the exhibition, along with all the other elements, absolutely worth seeing. At the end, everyone can tap into their own design talent by sketching a vehicle and then using AI to bring that design to life on a giant screen, driving through Eindhoven (especially fun for kids!). On October 30 and 31, special gatherings were organized for sponsors and invited guests, during which the exhibition was officially opened.
Vicki Burki (center photo), daughter of Charles Burki—the illustrator and creator of DAF’s early promotional material—cut the iconic red ribbon together with Antonello Conte (right photo) from Italdesign, the company involved in designing the very first DAFs by their founder Giorgetto Giugiaro (who unfortunately could not attend).
