AI Product Designs From Kartell, Kuzco and Thompson
This post is about the innovators, the 3 companies that were the first to use AI in product design and then manufacture those products and make those products available for sale through their worldwide distribution networks.
The first was Italian design brand, Kartell, who recently expanded their *A.I. family* collection - the first furniture collection designed by artificial intelligence - done in collaboration with famed product designer, Philippe Starck.
In Kartell’s own words:
”With the A.I. family, an emblem of the use of recycled materials, Kartell continues its ongoing commitment to sustainability. It is the first design creation generated by artificial intelligence, combining Philippe Starck's flair with an innovative algorithm for a distinctive, comfortable and eco-sustainable product, accelerating production processes and reducing waste.”
The expanded collection includes lounge chairs, stools, and consoles. All of the pieces in the AI collection are made of recycled thermoplastic polymers.
I personally love the lounge chair shown below, and the welt detail on the corners of the seat cushion.
As you can see below, Philippe Starck’s now infamous 2019 chair design for Kartell, the first chair created by artificial intelligence, won the Red Dot Award in 2020.
With AI’s ascendance in product design, it doesn’t surprise me that Kartell expanded their A.I. family collection.
I especially love this view of the bronze version of Chair 5887.
Next was Canadian lighting manufacturer, Kuzco Lighting [ a major Lightovation exhibitor ] who collaborated with NYC based jewelry designer, Hannah Jewett, in 2023, on the CIRCUIT GARDEN lighting collection, based on Hannah’s jewelry designs, worn by celebrities like Billie Eilish.
I took the below image while I was at the June 2023 Lightovation tradeshow, where it was first introduced. I was so surprised that none of our industry’s trade publications wrote about this major breakthrough introduction, so I wrote about it here in November of 2023.
This is the first lighting collection ever designed with the aid of AI and I suspect Hannah’s lighting fixtures will become part of a permanent museum exhibit one day.
The third company is Thompson. As many of my long time friends and readers know, luxury kitchen and bath brand, Thompson, manufactured the world’s first kitchen and bath product designed by AI, in collaboration with me - the AILA sink, shown below.
Made of solid copper and introduced by Thompson at the National Kitchen and Bath Show in February of 2024, the story of the AILA sink has been widely told in both consumer facing and trade publications as well as on podcasts.
The Thompson family and I are extremely grateful to all the editors who wrote about AILA.
It was very gratifying when this article came out after KBIS 2024, naming the AILA sink as one of their choices for the top five new technologies shown at #KBIS2024.
The first install of an AILA sink, in January of 2025, is shown below. Specified by interior designer Robin Baron for a client of hers in New York City. Robin, through Thompson’s TAILOR MADE customization program, re-designed AILA as an undermount, and had the gorgeous onyx counter cut to match the outline of AILA.
Sherle Wagner’s MOLECULE deck mounted faucets complement the sink beautifully.
AILA is now available through all Ferguson Home showrooms worldwide as well as through a small and select group of kitchen and bath and interior designers who hold accounts with Thompson.
A coda: in Spring of 2024, I had an hour long phone conversation with a nationally prominent person in the design industry who didn’t realize that both Century Furniture and the esteemed fabric house of Fortuny are also both using AI now - in house - in their product design development process.
When I heard that this person wasn’t aware of how these 2 luxury brands are using AI in product design, I knew it was time to write this post.
Be watching in 2026 … for a new twist on product design using AI. I’m excited to bring it to you.
I’m so excited about all of these new ways to partner with brands, using artificial intelligence, and even more excited that the brands are realizing how powerful and easy it is to utilize artificial intelligence in their product iteration and development process.
To get more information on Thompson’s AILA sink: https://www.thompsontraders.com/product/aila
To get more information and/or purchase items from Kartell’s A.I. Family collection: https://www.kartell.com/us/en/ktus/st/ai-family
To get more information on and/or pre-order Kuzco Lighting’s CIRCUIT GARDEN collection: https://shop.kuzcolighting.com/
As always, thank you for reading my blog. I appreciate your time.
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Lastly, if you’re interested in having me work with you on any aspect of your own AI initiatives re: AI product development and/or digital marketing and promotion - or having me speak on AI - please reach out to me at leslie@savourpartnership.com. I’d love to talk with you.
Leslie Carothers
Named One Of Home Furnishings News Magazine’s Top 40 Most Inspiring Women In Home
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