Moving Towards Generative Design

"Waste is a design flaw" Kate Krebs

Manufacturers are adopting generative design to solve engineering problems and develop innovative new products. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, generative design is a design exploration process that offers opportunities to make parts lightweight, consolidate assemblies, and discover novel material and design options. With the amount of material that can be eliminated using generative design, there can be significant cost savings.

Apart from the direct benefits of weight reduction, there are indirect sustainability benefits. The focus is to reduce negative impact on the environment. The material reduction eventually reduces the amount of carbon and energy. A lighter car will need lesser energy to run; lesser fuel will lead to lesser carbon dioxide emissions. This would eventually help companies in meeting corporate, ecological, and regulatory goals.

A product’s sustainability is directly related to the material choice. Using generative design, designers can explore different materials in terms of sustainability. They can select the best combination of design and material. Generative design streamlines the design and engineering process by using cloud simulation. The reduction in physical prototyping saves time, material waste, and cost.

Generative designs help in the exploration of different manufacturing processes. Additive manufacturing aids this with significant waste reduction during production, impacting environmental outcomes. 3D printing offers design freedom in complex shapes making inconceivable shapes and innovation leaps possible.

In the future, our everyday items, vehicles, buildings, and much more will possibly be created using generative design. With the growing challenges in addressing sustainability and climate change, using generative design will provide a win-win situation for businesses and the planet. We will create more innovative products in less time, with less material waste, less fuel waste, and less negative impact on our planet. As Abraham Lincoln said, ‘‘The best way to predict the future is to design it.’’