What is AI good for? Absolutely nothing!

Choosing real things over AI, the art of BUREAU BETAK, spaces within spaces, and more

Over the weekend, Kyle held the first Trend Report Live™ event with a great group of friends at our apartment, and one of the big issues we discussed at length was about AI and it’s impact on society in the future. It left me in bed reflecting on how I personally view AI, and what came to mind was that I view it as a MacGuffin. A term that was popularized by filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, it’s “an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself.” So why do I think AI is unimportant? In an age where we face mounting climate change, in small part due to the extreme energy needed to power AI, ironically, and society as a whole transforming into a “Me First” era, AI is looking more and more like a tool for people with first world problems.

I have no doubt that AI will have implications on society though I think most of the world have literally no use for such tools. The baker doesn’t need AI to make better baguettes. Your morning latte won’t taste better thanks to AI. AI isn’t going to make your check-in at a hotel feel more personable. In fact, studies already show that using AI is making people understand less, impairing our cognitive abilities and reducing our ability for critical thinking. Using computers to replace the important parts of learning continues our ebb toward an Idiocracy which is the last thing we need right now. Personally, I’ve started hand-writing notes about creative projects along with sketches of layouts and logos in an attempt to process the information more wholly.

Funny enough, the whole situation makes me think of Jeff Goldblum’s character Dr. Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, who famously proclaims, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.” I’m no longer interested in being caught up in the digital noise and would prefer to focus on projects and ideas that are tangible and real. You may have already seen this tonal change in the newsletter and you will continue to see it, as it feels like it’s what’s right to write about currently. I hope you enjoy today’s newsletter and that your week is calm and filled with creativity 💙

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The Artistry of BUREAU BETAK

There are few creative teams building next-level, transformative spatial design quite like the folks at BUREAU BETAK. Describing themselves as “a set design and production company, dedicated to the industries of luxury, fashion, beauty and art,” they turn spaces both mundane and grand into works of art. A perfect example is the space they created for Carolina Herrera’s FW25 show, filling the SOM-designed Solow building in Midtown New York with 3,000 red ranunculus blossoms, which they created with the help of florist Eriko Nagata.

Beyond that they’ve worked on some of the most iconic sets of the last year, from Willy Chavarria’s much lauded Tarantula collection, the surreal locale for Samuel Ross and ZARA’s collaboration, Dior’s Couture SS25 runway which featured custom painted scenes by artist Rithika Merchant, and of course, the now infamous Bottega Veneta Summer 25 runway which featured dozens and dozens of leather bean bag chairs shaped like animals of all kinds. When you look through their Instagram you see the scale and scope of their work, and it’s remarkable to think that this is all being done with a team of, what LinkedIn says, is a team of 11-50 people. You should absolutely spend some time with their work to see all that they do, so inspirational.

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A Space Within Spaces

I have been noticing this trend of buildings within buildings, or perhaps, “structures” within buildings is a better way to phrase it, where there is an overall large, voluminous space, and then inside there are smaller structures that define the space. The first project I saw that caught my attention was the Moment boutique in Nanjing, China, created by Modum Atelier, where they made a "floating" wooden pavilion which serves as the centerpiece of the boutique. Then I came across Lune Croissanterie, a bakery just outside of Melbourne, where architects Studio Esteta have put the production of the pastries at the heart of the space. Encased entirely in glass the glowing show space strategically integrates lighting within the cube that references the Lune brand and symbolize’s a halo, that glorifies the production process.

Finally, there is the Petr Hájek Architekti designed concert hall in Karlovy Vary, a bright red steel structure that rests in the middle of the concert hall. The structure is perched in such an interesting way in the space, almost like an alien organism living inside a historical building. This all feels like a reaction to open plan concepts, where everything is out in the open, and instead, creating clearly defined spaces with specific purposes.

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🎨 — I’m enthralled with Canadian artist Mathieu Larone and his mysterious pieces that look like they’ve been inspired by cartoons from the 1920’s. I believe his work is done with pastels which gives everything an ethereal feeling and his color choices are incredibly unique, making the work truly eye-catching.

🔠 — If you’re in need of some unique typefaces that truly have a unique sense of character (sorry to Google Fonts) you must check out Wabi Sabi Type Shop from the folks at LAND and Joe Swec. Personally I’m a fan of Forest Retreat and Warbler, and funny enough, I was looking for an Italian Futurist typeface for a project I’m working on, and voila! they have exactly what I was looking for.

📸 — You really need to see this photoshoot by Zhong Lin for W Magazine China featuring Anne Hathaway. The photos are haunting and ethereal and I’m so sad that American magazines can’t bother to be this creative.

💐 — Plantea Estudio does it again with their newest project, a petite flower shop in Madrid called Alblanc Atelier. I enjoy their work because they make such great use of natural materials and really letting them be the star of the show. The curved marble table is particularly striking and really makes the space unique.