kartell, philippe starck and the 3D software company autodesk have collaborated to create the new ‘A.I’ project, which is being presented at this years salone del mobile during milan design week 2019. as the name suggests, the collection combines artificial intelligence and creative thinking to form the unique chair model. the team have used an algorithm to conceive a comfortable seat that has the structural strength and solidity requirements to ensure certification and respect aesthetic standards of simplicity and clean lines.

all images courtesy of kartell

throughout it’s 70 year history, kartell has embraced mechanics in order to reproduce products on a large scale using increasingly sophisticated molds. today, in 2019, the design company unveils the first chair conceived using artificial intelligence, created in response to input received from the renowned french designer philippe starck.

‘kartell, autodesk and I,’ says philippe starck, ‘asked artificial intelligence a question: artificial intelligence, do you know how we can rest our bodies using the least amount of material? artificial intelligence, without culture, without memories, without influence, responded only with intelligence, its ‘artificial’ intelligence. A.I. it is the first chair designed outside our brain, out of our habits and how we are used to thinking. and thus, a new world opens up to us. unlimited.’

‘when philippe gave me his idea and the results of his work done in collaboration with autodesk’, commecnts claudio luti, president of kartell. ‘I immediately accepted the challenge of starting an industrial production on a project that for the first time was not born of our direct relationship or the dialectic between me and him in these thirty years of collaboration.’

‘working with starck and kartell has been an inspiration. the opportunity to understand their design philosophy and approach to problem solving is incredibly valuable for our team as we think about how to fulfill autodesk’s vision for the future of manufacturing,’ says mark davis, senior director of design futures at autodesk. ‘this is a research collaboration at the pinnacle of the industrial design world, resulting in one of the most creative outcome we’ve ever tried to achieve with generative design.’

project info:

project name: ‘A.I’

design: philippe starck for kartell