14 Conscious transformation Drawing on their experiences of technological disruption, Chan and Chak outline their immediate impact and how they proactively changed their design approaches to align with the new normal, even altering their career paths to better position themselves for the industry's future. Chan recalls, "In the past, we had to go to libraries or specific websites with accounts to access fashion show information. Seasonal fashion information was minimal, unlike now, where you can access real-time information on Instagram. For some senior practitioners, they struggled with going online and had to rely on clipping magazines and other printed materials for work. Previously, we actively searched for information, but now there's an overload of free information with inadequate filtering, often causing one to feel overwhelmed by AI systems and algorithms and leading to aesthetic fatigue and a sense of conflict." Today's online image resources provide designers with endless free and convenient images. However, Chan ponders the possibility of this technology replacing current art and design jobs. Chan said, "I experimented with AI to generate works in the style of the movie 'Dune' and American designer Rick Owens. It could generate an entire fashion series beautifully, which felt intimidating. But with increased iterations, the AI output became repetitive." Based on her experience, Chan believes AI can assist film and art design departments by directly generating atmospheric visuals and colour palettes. However, AI has its limitations regarding the actual production of costumes. "Current AI technology cannot weave a sweater like humans, which is why I believe I still have a few more years of job security before AI fully replaces designers. Moreover, AI-generated character designs lack the 'human touch' and sense of life, which is evident through the lens and human actors' performances." Reflecting on the media's online transition from the mid-2010s onwards, Chan recalls that many media outlets drastically changed their presentation methods. "Print media declined, becoming network media dominant, with significant differences in reading methods and speeds... Previously, we mainly read A4-sized printed media, where clothes could be adjusted with pins and clips during photoshoots or retouched later. But now, with a focus on film and TV, the process is like moving from 2D to 3D, where tiny details are magnified on giant screens, making even the smallest thread stand out, which is very concerning." Silent elimination While Chan is a film and entertainment producer, Chak is the one who brings these works to the audience. As a Director of Innovation and Product Development at TCL Corporate Research (Hong Kong) Company Limited, his products, such as mobile phones, personal computers, digital media and smart TVs, deliver movies and entertainment programmes to consumers today. He has a different perspective on the relationship between technology, design thinking and industry transformation. Chak says, "I graduated with a Product Design and Technology major. My early work focused on craftsmanship. We were among the first batch of academically trained newcomers familiar with Photoshop 4.0, AutoCAD and 3D technology. At that time, many software programmes were still imperfect, with numerous programme flaws. Simply avoiding these pitfalls to complete the work was considered excellent performance in those days." Chak later managed the design team at Canon, winning the Red Dot: Best of the Best Award in 2013 for the "X Mark II Calculator". However, this experience, which represented the pinnacle of his career at that point, also alerted him to its coming demise. Quite a lot of electronic products were quietly disappearing from daily life, underscoring the urgency of his transformation. Chak said, "Apps have replaced radios and alarm clocks; numerous products have shifted from hardware to software. In traditional industrial design and production lines, software was often seen as a mere accessory to hardware earlier. However, from today's perspective, it is clear that software has become a far more crucial component." Chak predicted that the outdated hardware-centric models, which were slow to adapt to user experience (UX) expectations, would eventually be phased out for the more responsive app economy. Chak says, "Now the industry emphasises interactive design and UX, which were areas I feared in the past. As a designer, the world is changing, and I need to understand changing user needs and focus on problem-solving. The product forms of the past cannot address future issues." As the product design industry changed and single-purpose gadgets like point-and-shoot cameras and electronic dictionaries disappeared, Chak proactively sought to thrive in the new environment. "The current situation is similar to the past. Today, many people still do not fully comprehend the capabilities of AI, just as individuals in the past were sceptical about the decline of 'dumb phones' with the rise of smartphones," Chak says. He described how in the past, product designers primarily focused on craftsmanship and product specifications. However, upon joining TCL Group, he found that the scope
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