Procurement execs often don't understand the value of good design, experts say (fortune.com)

At the recent Fortune Brainstorm Design forum in Macau, design experts discussed the disconnect between procurement executives and the value of quality design in the hospitality sector. Many firms prioritize cost-cutting, often sidelining designers during the procurement process, which can lead to outcomes that fall short of the initial creative vision. Designers like Tina Norden emphasized the importance of effective communication and the long-term benefits of investing in well-designed products, which not only enhance aesthetic value but also tend to have lower lifecycle costs and are more environmentally sustainable. In the evolving landscape of design, AI is gradually being adopted as a tool to enhance efficiency in furniture design and other areas. Daisuke Hironaka of Stellar Works highlighted how AI can expedite the design process for large-scale projects, reducing the time required to develop custom pieces from several weeks to a fraction of that. While AI can streamline repetitive and time-consuming tasks, Norden reassured that it cannot replicate the nuanced human touch essential for understanding spatial dynamics and user experience, suggesting that AI should be viewed as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human creativity.