UVU professor Brandon Truscott wins an international AI Design Award, using AI as a creative partner to produce sculptural design while preparing students for AI-driven creative industries worldwide recognition Barcelona.
Orem, Utah — February 4, 2026
Brandon Truscott, Entertainment Design professor at Utah Valley University, is redefining what it means to be an artist in the age of artificial intelligence. His latest achievement—winning first place in the Objects & Items category of the AI Design Awards for his Spider Conch Chair—showcases not only his mastery of design but also his bold embrace of AI as a collaborative creative tool. Truscott received the award on February 4th in Barcelona, Spain.
“I see AI as a collaborative tool, just like photography or any other medium,” Truscott shared with TechBuzz. “It’s something you work with to improve both the speed and quality of your production.”
Truscott’s approach is hands-on and iterative. While AI can generate hundreds of images almost instantaneously, the human element remains central. “I would say 90% of the time spent on an image is editing and curating,” he says, refining the AI-generated outputs into something uniquely his own.
Over his 20-year career as an exhibiting artist across multiple mediums, Truscott has navigated the skepticism and resistance many in the art world hold toward AI. But his success shows that these tools can be ethically and creatively integrated into artistic practice. “There’s continued resistance to AI in art, for good reasons, around intellectual property and sourcing,” he notes. “But used responsibly, it’s a powerful extension of creativity.”
Truscott has leveraged a wide array of AI tools in his practice, including MidJourney, Nano Banana, Google Gemini, Kreya.ai, Udo, and Suno. Each serves a distinct purpose: from rapid image generation and character consistency in animation to AI-assisted music composition. He also integrates proprietary imagery and iterative prompts to maintain control over the final work, blending human intent with AI efficiency.
The Spider Conch Chair exemplifies this synergy. Designed as a sculptural, functional piece, it reflects both Truscott’s artistic vision and the nuanced capabilities of AI. His victory at the AI Design Awards earns him a spot at the Winners Exhibition in Barcelona, where the global community of AI-driven designers will celebrate innovation in art and design.
Beyond his personal practice, Truscott is preparing UVU students for a creative landscape where AI fluency is increasingly essential. “I’m one of the few proponents in my college advocating that everyone needs to get involved. Students are frightened, but learning these tools gives them an edge in competitive creative industries.”
Additional AI Design Awards Finalists by Brandon Truscott
This week Truscott received first place for his Spider Conch Chair in the Objects & Items category of the 2025 AI Design Awards in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, several of Truscott’s other designs were recognized as 2025 AI Design Awards finalists in the Image category, showcasing the breadth and imagination of his AI‑assisted work:
• RYU Dragon Camera – A retro‑futuristic imaging device that blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting‑edge design aesthetics, combining warm wood accents and polished metal for a premium cinematography instrument.
• The Lemon Claw – A high‑end citrus reamer and zester rendered with chrome and resin details, marrying functional kitchen tool design with a mid‑century modern sensibility.
• EMS Ironhorse – A luxury electric bicycle that reimagines transport with artisanal touches—rich leather, brass hardware, and an exposed mechanical aesthetic that evokes both heritage and innovation.
• DeBug – A conceptual sci‑fi/fantasy image depicting a bug‑ridden creature confronting an oversized can of “DE‑BUG” spray, symbolizing the complexities and ironies of human‑AI interaction.
These works reflect Truscott’s deep engagement with AI as a generative tool, where conceptual boldness and deep iteration converge to produce pieces that push both artistic and functional boundaries.
Truscott’s journey underscores a growing paradigm: AI is not a replacement for human artistry but rather a partner that amplifies creativity, expands possibilities, and accelerates production. “The window is narrowing,” he says. “Once AI reaches near-perfect accuracy, the rate of creation will be almost instantaneous. But the human touch, the curation and editing, will always define the work.”
Learn more about Art & Design at UVU here.
Learn more about Brandon Truscott here.