TL;DR

Robert Polacek from RoseBernard Studio maintains that AI performs optimally when unseen, tackling routine duties out of sight to free designers for innovative pursuits. He stresses that nimble small studios can swiftly integrate new tools, while young professionals now regard AI as everyday practice.

Artificial intelligence continues to dominate talks in architecture, design, and related creative fields. Robert Polacek, co-founder and creative director at RoseBernard Studio, feels the key conversations have shifted away from fears of job loss and doubt. His emphasis lies on leveraging technology to amplify creative potential and foster deeper industry partnerships.

Polacek regards AI as a productivity enhancer that frees creatives to invest more effort in ideation and refining concepts within studio settings. Recent research aligns with this outlook, showing 84% of architects positive about employing AI to handle repetitive chores.

He states, "As much as we are creatives, building physical spaces for people to be in, there’s so much technology we can leverage to help us get there sooner. AI can help us have more creative time and hone our skill sets at the same time."

Insights from Milan Design Week lately solidified these views for him. Wandering through displays with peers, Polacek saw AI's role not prominently displayed but woven discreetly into architecture, setups, visuals, texts, and production techniques.

"We realized AI was everywhere, but it wasn’t out in the forefront," he observes. "It was behind the scenes, doing what it needed to do to create the art that we were seeing. That’s exactly what we’re preaching. AI doesn’t have to announce itself; it can work for us, but behind the curtains."

Polacek considers this subtle integration vital for creative sectors amid fast tech shifts. He warns that treating AI solely as a cost-cutting measure could erode the human essence that infuses creative output with depth and feeling.

Conversely, he argues that outright rejection of tech progress hampers firms operationally and artistically. "We want to create less friction, so we’re constantly aware of keeping up. That’s what you need to do to remain aligned with the technological evolution," he elaborates.

At RoseBernard Studio, adaptability permeates the culture. Polacek describes regular team sessions dedicated to reviewing new software, experimenting with tools, and assessing improvements to processes, teamwork, and innovation.

Polacek notes, "We meet every two weeks as a team and look at the software we’re working on and the ones coming out. We ask ourselves, ‘Should we change?’ And if it meets our needs, we do, because we’re nimble enough to do that."

This flexibility, he contends, provides small studios with a key upper hand today. Bigger organizations grapple with massive rollout hurdles for each tech wave, especially across dispersed offices, divisions, and outdated infrastructures. "By the time everyone gets trained and adjusted, something new comes along, and everything changes again," he remarks.

Feedback after a recent RoseBernard Studio talk echoed these points. There, team members showcased AI uses in their routines, from early concepts and visualizations to analysis and planning. Afterward, junior designers voiced frustrations over bans on AI at their workplaces - a stance Polacek avoids.

Polacek observes that emerging creatives now anticipate tech as integral to daily work. These demands, he predicts, will shape upcoming studios' structures, hires, and operations. "I’m hiring people right out of school because they know the latest technology," he says. "They use it outside of work for jewelry design, art making, dance, and all kinds of creative work."

Efficiency gains have kept the studio streamlined yet prolific. Polacek stresses AI hasn't displaced roles; rather, it optimizes current staff performance. "AI has made mundane tasks, once handled by the younger generation, unnecessary. That means you no longer need 20 years of experience to make an impact; you need a willingness to learn and the creativity to make a difference."

Moreover, Polacek sees accessible tools opening doors for novice entrepreneurs and boutique outfits. Advanced software now empowers compact groups to rival former large-team feats. He adds, "It is easier now to get a streamlined workflow on your own. If you’re creative enough and business savvy, there’s more opportunity there."

Yet he frames this not as rivalry but alliance potential among small studios with aligned skills. "Put three small firms together and all of a sudden you have an amazing team," he suggests.

Tech keeps transforming ties between digital aids and tangible creativity. Spanning analog and digital phases, Polacek urges ongoing adaptation and education. "AI can’t harm you unless you stop learning. That’s when you could become disposable," he cautions.

Polacek ultimately positions AI as the backbone bolstering creativity. From this view, thriving design futures await studios blending tech savvy with human ingenuity and teamwork.