AI in physical product design and manufacture: What does it really mean for people, our planet and the products we buy?


The adoption of AI into design, engineering and manufacturing is being accelerated fast, leading to increased productivity and competitiveness. The race to the ‘top’ is happening now … but most of the conversation is dominated around AI in the realms of ‘digital’, but what about the ‘physical’ man-made object?

Supply Chain Diagram-01.jpg

Design: Materials, construction, functionality : How can we build better products? What does it enable us to do, that we couldn’t do before?

People: How dose technology and culture influence each other? What governmental initiatives can help foster promising economies?

Education: How will technology shape learning and how we learn? What should we be teaching today, to ensure the right skills of tomorrow?

Environment: Protection for future generations, how? Are we focusing in the right places?

Business: Enhancing business resilience: how can it be achieved? What benefits are we already seeing?


Introduction: What is this page?

This is a resource list that I have been adding to over a number of years. I work in the Industrial Design industry in the UK, and have sought out information to ‘fill in’ gaps in my knowledge. This has usually been driven by conversations with clients and businesses.

In particular I am increasingly aware of the role new technologies (such as data, AI, ethics) play in the design process. Everything from research, concept design, through to certification and manufacture.