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Abstract

er based on the prompt “A Dan Flavin art of a rabbit”.</figcaption></figure><p id="2b9b">It’s a beauty. Simple, poetic, surprising. The reference to Dan Flavin creates an atmospheric, illuminated render of the rabbit. I could see this as a piece in my own space.</p><p id="16cf" type="7">“An Isamu Noguchi art of a rabbit”</p><figure id="8d22"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*gj4fxhoA7HyROuRpYyb8Ig.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the prompt “An Isamu Noguchi art of a rabbit”.</figcaption></figure><p id="113c">Stunning. There is a bit of surrealism in the form itself, but it’s an impressive concept of a rabbit.</p><p id="03ce" type="7">“A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit”</p><figure id="4eee"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*7LOC2oigQDzizr7kBf2stg.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the prompt “A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit”.</figcaption></figure><p id="7855">This render looks right out of the imaginary sculpture park itself. The texture is amazingly realistic, the composition is dynamic. In its poise, the rabbit displays a big personality.</p><h1 id="830a">Defining the three-prong prompt: A sculptural reference, persona, and an action</h1><p id="5b77">Now that we’ve explored a basic static DALL-E render of a sculptural reference, we can expand the prompt with a third contextual element, <b>action</b>.</p><p id="56be">We’ll ask for the rabbit to be active, jumping, or leaping.</p><figure id="3b09"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lYLI6loWGLuEmEit8uZNKw.png"><figcaption>Adding ‘action’ to the initial prompt. This defines the 3-prong approach for the prompt.</figcaption></figure><p id="2f0c">Defining an action for our persona will add fluidity and spatial aspects. We can describe the action as leaping, or jumping through the air.</p><p id="360c">The prompts for DALL-E are thus:</p><p id="e870" type="7">“A Dan Flavin art of a rabbit leaping through the air”</p><figure id="a91c"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*OhgL44MaPkgu2NcnBBcPwA.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the 3-prong prompt “A Dan Flavin art of a rabbit leaping through the air”.</figcaption></figure><p id="1c1b">DALL-E rendered this beautifully based on the 3-prong input. The image has a cinematic, ethereal quality. While we’re not sure where this narrative is going, it can be the take-off point for the rabbit hero story.</p><p id="ac7b" type="7">“An Isamu Noguchi sculpture of a rabbit jumping through mid air”</p><figure id="5b4e"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*-tfcnwiVkpOpni9ziPb53Q.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the 3-prong prompt “An Isamu Noguchi sculpture of a rabbit jumping through mid air”.</figcaption></figure><p id="9b64">In this DALL-E image, the hero, the rabbit is taking on a playful personality, jumping into the air, escaping the picture, leaping into his freedom. Action here defines the hero as having energy and aspirations.</p><p id="6506" type="7">“A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit jumping”</p><figure id="60fc"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*tn92Rom8N8RRMEy5-MTVvg.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the 3-prong prompt “A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit jumping”.</figcaption></figure><p id="c4a3">This DALL-E rabbit seems to be dancing on his concrete cube, excited to be in this park-like environment. The action here adds delightfulness and subtlety.</p><h1 id="0612">Defining the four-prong prompt: The sculptural reference, persona, action, and environment</h1><p id="600e">We can expand a 3-prong set-up to include any other attribute. We can set the stage by defining the surroundings, colors, expression, background, textures, and so many other aspects.</p><figure id="44e0"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*_LiLU-WRYZnBBdfaLNyXCQ.png"><figcaption>An illustrative outline of a 4-prong approach to crafting the prompt. This includes the sculptural style reference, the hero (rabbit), the action, and the environment.</figcaption></figure><p id="b24a">For this exploration, we define the environment on the Barbara-Hepworth-inspired dancing rabbit.</p><p id="5bd8" type="7">“A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit diving into a big swimming pool”</p><figure id="cc8

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f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*VM3eVfQ3YmXeriXWTUAQBA.png"><figcaption>A DALL-E render based on the 4-prong prompt “A Barbara Hepworth sculpture of a rabbit diving into a big swimming pool”.</figcaption></figure><p id="0744">It’s a nice rendering, although it took a few rounds to get a render of the rabbit’s entire body. The form of the sculpture is lovely, smooth, and artistic. I could see this sculpture in someone’s swimming pool.</p><p id="3c60">This can become an idea for a prototype. Or it can be a visual cue for a story that yet has to be written.</p><p id="58a0">Expanding on the prompts can add interesting dimensions, although it will take several tries before DALL-E can loosely match one’s expectation, even on a rudimentary level.</p><h1 id="f09d">Learnings and takeaways</h1><p id="e758">DALL-E renders take time (and money). They need a meaningful prompts to make a render valuable to the designer.</p><p id="ea35">Crafting a prompt takes a conceptual input. We need to define our expectations of a DALL-E render. (Randomness is fine, but unsurprisingly, the outcome is unpredictable).</p><p id="4faf">It is important to know the artistic style references well. Read up about artists’ and their work and look images of their oeuvre. Delve into their universe that took them decades to create.</p><p id="6c89">Study art history, visit museums, attend art lectures, research art movements. It will come in handy when you need to write design inputs.</p><p id="47f6">Keep being amazed by what you see around you and make a note of it.</p><p id="2ce2">Experiment with the prompt, but don’t ask for the impossible. Remember, DALL-E pulls from open source databases. DALL-E doesn’t have the human ability to bend its mind around corners.</p><p id="5f04">Remain humble and always remember, DALL-E does not replace the human imagination and creative mind. DALL-E is a tool. We can use it to explore.</p><p id="bd7b">Above all, enjoy the journey into AI.</p><p id="87ca">And then, take a break from it all.</p><p id="734f"><b>Interested in learning more about UX design, AI, design tools & trends, and art? Join Medium with <a href="https://evaschicker2012.medium.com/membership">this link</a>, and support my future writing. Thank you! </b>✍️🧡</p><p id="7ff8"><i>All images created with DALL-E ©Eva Schicker 2023.</i></p><p id="be5c">Read more about AI and design:</p><div id="f8f5" class="link-block"> <a href="https://evaschicker.medium.com/applying-abstract-art-references-to-dall-e-as-stylistic-concepts-55a000660f8c"> <div> <div> <h2>Applying abstract art references to DALL-E as stylistic concepts</h2> <div><h3>5 explorations on how DALL-E’s AI is interpreting modernist art styles</h3></div> <div><p>evaschicker.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*FJxhtMEaieIBKV-Tqsu18w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="144e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://evaschicker.medium.com/how-to-explore-the-golden-ratio-in-design-and-typography-b124331ba378"> <div> <div> <h2>How to explore the golden ratio in design and typography</h2> <div><h3>The secret lies in 1.61803398875</h3></div> <div><p>evaschicker.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*6VIjPYDeIFm-JvSKNYg50g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="770e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://evaschicker.medium.com/creating-steam-in-css-d8641ba7525c"> <div> <div> <h2>Creating steam in CSS</h2> <div><h3>Think hot, delightful, freshly brewed coffee</h3></div> <div><p>evaschicker.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*VuQaTsutYWfyUueWNHz2aQ.gif)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="0bce">Thank you.</p></article></body>

When You Feel Unproductive

And how to break the cycle of toxic productivity

Photo by Anna Nekrashevich: https://www.pexels.com/photo/anonymous-woman-lying-on-bed-at-home-6598240/

I strongly believe in self-discipline. Waiting to feel motivated to get things done, in my experience, is usually ineffective. Getting started, regardless of whether I feel like it or not, is usually what makes me more productive as a person. However, it is very easy to get stuck in this mindset and push ourselves to the limits.

When does productivity become toxic?

There are days I get my main tasks done, but I just don’t feel like doing anything additional that day. On those days, I tend to feel guilty for ending up not doing as much as I had wanted or expected to do. Does it make me any less productive as a person? Does it mean I don’t get anything done at all? Absolutely not. But our black-and-white thinking is very efficient at convincing us otherwise.

“i have this productivity anxiety that everyone else is working harder than me and i’m going to be left behind cause i’m not working fast enough long enough and i’m wasting my time”

— Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur does a fantastic job describing this toxic cycle of productivity in her poem “productivity anxiety”. Each line illustrates the thoughts and emotions we experience in this cycle: stress, comparison to others, fear based on unrealistic expectations, and negative thoughts that end up affecting our self-esteem. For me, those are usually pretty good indications that I need to pause and reflect.

Finding balance

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/balance-blur-boulder-close-up-355863/

Being constantly busy and doing something “exciting” or “productive” is so over-glamorised nowadays, that we feel ashamed and guilty on the days we don’t do as much. I’m not suggesting in any way that we drop our responsibilities and leave them behind. But I do believe it is important to train our minds to be more aware of the pressure we put on ourselves in daily life.

Tips that help me overcome productivity anxiety

Realising. Being unaware of how you feel can be dangerous. It’s what usually causes burnout. Taking a moment to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and the physical sensations they evoke brings your awareness to your state of anxiety.
Accepting. Allowing and accepting whatever you experience without denying or blaming yourself is crucial. It leaves space for positive change.
Be honest with yourself. Asking yourself a few simple questions can give you a more realistic approach to the situation. This will help downregulate the negative thoughts. Here are a few questions I like to ask myself: 1. Is this anxiety really necessary? 2. Were these goals and expectations realistic for today/for the week? 3. Do these thoughts occur from comparing myself to others? 4. Does my productivity define me as a person in any way?
Allow yourself to do nothing. Being active is important for overall wellbeing, but simply “being” and not doing anything sometimes, is essential to reset.

Having unproductive days is completely okay. Taking time for yourself is healthy and necessary!