The approach for the infographic aimed at luring people into reading a false ‘narrative’, with the hope that they would ultimately engage with an informative piece centered around AI and its use in the design industry. The concept mimicked a crime investigator's table, detailing the story of a fictitious company (the Atrium) involved in money laundering, while visibly showcasing the company's genesis through generative AI. The focus was on how the AI was utilised to establish this ‘fake brand’ as a real company, with a humorous context relied upon to convey the narrative.
While creating the images of the fictitious locations, the realisation dawned that giving them actual names felt somewhat illicit, akin to forgery, especially considering the potential traceability to a unique IP address. This straightforward and humorous idea was unprecedented in our academic pursuits, where the creation and ‘passing off’ of AI-generated graphics had not been permitted previously.
Johan Steyn, a designer originally from South Africa, is located in Johannesburg. Completing his studies in Information Design at the University of Pretoria, he harbours a deep enthusiasm for editorial layout, UX/UI, and holds a keen interest in alcohol advertising.