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17-25 October 2026

This project is now archived and was part of DDW26

Close-up unbleached cotton and synthetic felt
Close-up unbleached cotton and synthetic felt
Merel Mierop
A project in which experiment, documentation, comparison, prediction, transience and reproduction converge between humans, nature and AI.

How accurately can AI predict natural processes through image generation?

In the first part, a boundary of AI is explored. A series of fabric letters are buried in the earth as material input for nature. AI receives a textual prompt accompanied by a photograph of the original letter as input. The prompt does not direct the outcome, but only provides information about the material, the environment, and the conditions. AI must determine the influence of these factors for itself. After periods ranging from one month to one year, the letters are excavated and compared with the AI-generated predictions.

Defining roles

In the second part, AI is used solely as a design tool, demonstrating how humans and nature can remain the foundation of the creative process. The specifically chosen uppercase letter ‘R’ combines a bowl, a diagonal leg, a horizontal arm and a vertical stem. From these forms, AI can generate a complete Latin alphabet.

About Merel Mierop

Nature, typography, materials and techniques are currently her main interests. Through this graduation project, she explores her near future as a designer in the face of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. What role does the designer take? AI can become part of the process, but human creativity or passion should never be lost and replaced.