Artificial intelligence is already part of the daily routine of many interior design and architecture studios, but not in a homogeneous way. While some professionals use it to accelerate the conceptual phases, others maintain artisanal processes and resort to it only for minor tasks.
Based on contributions from María Ramón –product designer at Studio Inma Bermúdez-, Betsaida Curto -architect and founder of Estudio Copla-, interior designer Francesc Rifé and Alessandro Baccari -design director and senior partner at DesignAgency-, we compiled five real uses that show how AI is transforming the practice of design.
1. Discovering ideas in minutes: AI as a quick sketch
One of the most widespread applications is the generation of images to visualise creative directions without investing hours in illustrations. “We use tools that allow us to find out different ideas very quickly to decide if it is worth developing them”, explains María Ramón.
Similarly, interior designer Francesc Rifé works with Midjourney, Stable Diffusion or ControlNet to test materials, atmospheres or formal variations from real sketches. “AI helps us accelerate exploration; for me, it is still a tool, not a starting point”, says Rifé.
Another key is the production of renders, high-quality animations, or text editing for business documents. Baccari clarifies that they use AI “to manipulate light and improve the appearance of textures and details of finishes, such as the grain of wood or marble”.
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2. Present proposals to the client more clearly
AI is changing customer communication, especially at the start of a project. At Studio Inma Bermúdez, a recent packaging project benefited from AI-generated variations. “We were able to show different directions clearly without investing dozens of hours in sketches. “Uncertainty is reduced and the client understands sooner where we are going”, says Ramón.
Along these lines, Baccari values these tools as a way “to communicate our design vision more clearly and respond quickly to feedback”.
Rifé introduces the critical nuance by pointing out that “higher expectations are also generated. A hyperrealistic image can appear definitive when it is not yet so”.
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3. Supporting secondary tasks without replacing the artisanal process
While some studies integrate AI into their conceptual phase, others maintain a much more limited relationship with the technology. At Estudio Copla, digital tools are used only as occasional support, without interfering in the creative process. “Our work is very artisanal. “We use AI for text editing or some photo retouching or rendering, nothing more”, Betsaida emphasises.
Their approach reminds us that not all studies need to incorporate in-depth AI to work rigorously. For them, the value lies in the time dedicated to the material, the place, and the closeness with the client. “We are committed to a more tailored relationship; AI accelerates, but does not replace, that bond”, he adds.
4. Anticipating results before building: simulation, light, and space behaviour
The most technical -and least known- use appears in the hands of interior designers like Francesc Rifé, where AI and technology become predictive tools. “We are applying very precise digital simulations of the behaviour of light. “We can anticipate how reflections or shadows will move before we build,” Rifé points out. These types of technologies do not generate “pretty images”, but information that allows for the projection of more habitable and coherent spaces.
Baccari confirms that AI is integrated into all projects, not as an exception: “AI applications are fully integrated into the set of technological tools we use during the conceptualisation and design development phases”.
5. AI as a filter: selecting better, not producing more
In many studies, AI allows for quick elimination and concentration of effort on what truly has potential. María Ramón, from Studio Inma Bermúdez, puts it this way: “It helps you direct your energy towards the strongest ideas.” DesignAgency adds a very relevant nuance: “As creatives, we are excited about the potential and evolution of AI. With AI tools, we can often test and iterate ideas in ways that wouldn’t be possible in the physical world”.
In teams with more manual processes, like Estudio Copla, the warning lies elsewhere: “Without a critical eye, you can make big mistakes; the tool doesn’t replace professional expertise”. For Baccari, while he believes this technology has a future, it requires sound judgment: “Detecting these errors and correcting them is part of the process and a warning against uncontrolled use”.
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