Designing AI Technologies for Creativity

Kids Kabin members from Walker have been collaborating with friends from North Tyne Youth to design new AI-powered technologies with researchers from Northumbria University. Together, the young people came up with concepts, sketches, and prototypes to explore ways they could connect their creative practice over long distances.

Musa from Walker building an interactive printer prototype

We also worked with archaeologists from Redesdale Archaeology Group (RAG) over a few workshops to think about ways we could make and decode clues from things the young people make, the same way archaeologists uncover hidden meaning in the things they find.

The groups ended up creating three new technologies which will connect them to each other, and also to the public through an interactive display.

Building the AI camera kit

The technologies are: a camera which takes photos but doesn’t show them, a printer which creates little stories about things in the photos, and a display which shows abstract fragments of these images. 

Browyn trying to decode one of the printed messages

By piecing these bits of information together, the youth groups can try to decode what each other have made. Some of these technologies are installed at Rochester Relish cafe in Redesdale, and will be on display until Christmas 2025. If you’re in the area, head up and give them a go - try to decode some of the clues!

Devin, from Walker, said,

‘It was fun getting to have our work on display in a real museum feels pretty cool, if I’m being honest. I like seeing people appreciate what we made. I’d definitely go back and say, ‘I made that!’

Exploring the installation at Rochester Relish