Episode 03-01: Clifton Harness

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In this episode of Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks, we kick off Series 3: “Guests’ Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted” and welcome back John Pierson as our Co-Host!

For this episode’s Maverick, we have Clifton Harness, co-founder and CEO of TestFit, as we explore the world of generative design and its impact on real estate, architecture and construction. From optimizing and building AECO configurators to the future of automated design processes, Clifton shares insights on how technology is transforming the industry. Tune in to discover how TestFit is redefining architectural feasibility and what this means for the future of design and construction.

Be sure to stick around to the end, for the hack and learn about these points👇(just click the Click to Continue Reading and See Show Notes)

Key Discussion Points:

Clifton’s Background:

  • Clifton describes himself as an innovator and disrupter in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
  • TestFit is a generative design company focused on optimizing building configurations, particularly parking lots.

Generative Design Discussion:

  • Exploration of TestFit’s use of computational AI for building configurators.
  • Explanation of how configurators embed intelligence and allow rapid testing of design constraints.

Real-Time Design and AI:

  • Discussion of TestFit’s ability to generate thousands of design iterations in real-time.
  • Clifton demonstrates the software’s capability to create numerous design schemes quickly.

Industry Trends and Challenges:

  • Conversation about skepticism and optimism surrounding generative design.
  • Discussion on the future of architectural competency and the potential impacts of AI.

Generative Design in Practice:

  • Examples of real-world applications of TestFit’s generative design tools.
  • Clifton talks about the free urban planner tool and its adoption in academia.

Future of Architecture and Technology:

  • Speculation on the evolution of design processes and the role of architects.
  • Clifton’s vision of TestFit as an augmentative tool, not replacing architects but enhancing their capabilities.

Closing Thoughts:

  • Clifton shares a “hack” for using technology creatively in the AEC industry.
  • Encouragement to experiment with new ideas and document the process for learning and improvement.

This episode is packed with insights on the intersection of technology and architecture, offering a glimpse into how generative design is reshaping the future of the industry.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

You can listen to the podcast, HERE, the Spotify player at the start of this post, or on your favorite podcast app. If you prefer visual content, be sure to check out the video on YouTube.

Show Notes:

Clifton Harness is co-founder and CEO of TestFit.

Where you can find Clifton & TestFit:

  • Anyone can use TestFit’s Urban Planner Massing tool for FREE!

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music “Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)” You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

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