EP 52: AI in Interior Design- A Candid Conversation with Sarah Daniele

In this candid conversation, Jenna Gaidusek, host of the "AI for Interior Designers" podcast, welcomes long-time friend and industry colleague Sarah Daniele. Sarah, co-founder of MyDoma and now Principal of Designer Solutions at MyDoma and Studio Designer, turns the tables and interviews Jenna on her evolving expertise and practical applications of AI in the interior design workflow. This episode offers valuable insights into the current state and future possibilities of AI tools for every designer, regardless of the software they use.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

This episode explores the latest advancements in AI for interior designers, focusing on both visual communication and workflow efficiency.

Visual AI Tools

• ChatGPT with DALL-E (for mock-ups and imagery): Jenna highlights ChatGPT's DALL-E integration as a primary tool for creating compelling visuals, particularly for mock-ups and reducing revision cycles. She emphasizes its role in accurate visual communication rather than replacing full renderings.
• Visual Electric (for branded graphics, images, and video): This tool is favored for creating consistent brand visuals and transforming images into video clips. Its ability to draw from various generative AI models makes it a versatile, "one-stop shop" for visual content.
• Creating Custom Styles: A significant advantage discussed is the ability to create and apply custom "brand styles" in Visual Electric, allowing designers to maintain a consistent aesthetic across their projects based on their unique portfolio.
• AI and Rendering: Both Jenna and Sarah agree that AI is not currently a replacement for professional rendering. Instead, it's a powerful tool for conceptualization and rapid visual communication, saving hours typically spent on inspiration gathering or initial sketching. Jenna predicts about a year until AI can achieve more accurate scale and detail for rendering.
• Mazing XR (for 3D models and AR): Jenna introduces Mazing XR as a groundbreaking tool that converts 2D images (JPEGs, PNGs) into downloadable 3D GLB files for use in programs like MyDoma and even generates AR models. This significantly speeds up the creation of custom product models, a traditional time-sink for designers.

Workflow and Business AI Tools

• Note-Takers (Loom, Zoom AI Companion, Plaud): The conversation highlights the critical role of AI-powered note-takers in improving efficiency.
  • Loom: Integrates with Zoom to record meetings, provide timestamped outlines, and action items, offering a robust solution for virtual meeting recaps.
  • Zoom AI Companion: A built-in feature for transcribing and summarizing virtual meetings.
  • Plaud: A physical device (or app) for recording in-person conversations, providing transcripts for meetings outside of a virtual setting.
• Leveraging Transcripts for Proposals: A key workflow recommendation is to use transcripts from initial client conversations to generate proposals with AI writing tools (like ChatGPT or Perplexity). This ensures all client needs and wishes are accurately captured and addressed, significantly streamlining the proposal creation process.

For more AI tools tailored to interior designers, check out the AI Tool List. You can also explore daily AI advisory sessions for deeper insights into AI-driven workflows. Join the DAIly for up to date, on-demand video trainings and check out our monthly AI workshops.