Brat summer is over and done with, but the viral bright green album cover continues to be relevant — just ask Figma CEO Dylan Field.
During the “Uncapped with Jack Altman” podcast published on Wednesday, Field said the album is an example of why AI won’t replace human designers anytime soon.
“I think we are so far away from AI replacing designers, and if you actually look at the designs generated, I think it’s very easy to tell that,” Field said. “But even if the design generation from an aesthetic standpoint gets better, it’s not considering the entire system.”
Field told Altman, the brother of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, that the technology doesn’t take into account certain things, such as cultural context or constraints.
“You’re not thinking about the emotional qualities you’re trying to create and the brand, and how that gets pulled in,” Field said.
Field used the simple viral cover of Charli XCX’s album “Brat” as an example of a design artificial superintelligence likely wouldn’t suggest. The bright green album cover is bare except for the word “brat” styled in a slightly distorted Arial font.
“What ASI designer would create Brat summer?” Field said. “The ability to go think of all the possibilities in the world and end up on that album cover. You put me in a room for 100 years, I don’t think I would have come up with that.”
Charli XCX released “Brat” to critical and commercial acclaim in June 2024, sparking what became known as Brat summer. The 15-track album cover became a pop culture phenomenon, influencing trends in fashion and politics. “Brat” won several awards, including two Grammy Awards.
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The advancements in AI and automation have sparked debate about whether the technology will create more jobs for humans or replace them. For his part, Field has said AI isn’t coming for humans’ jobs.
“There’s a need for designers to lead the charge, and AI will only get you so far,” Field told the “Rapid Response” podcast in October. “But the drudgery, how do we remove that from the design process? How do we give more access to more people?”
