色彩绚丽的计算机硬件
Pentagram and Map create bold visual identity for Graphcore's computer hardware

由专筑网王帅，李韧编译

Pentagram与Map设计机构通过为英国Graphcore人工智能芯片硬件设计初创公司设计的五彩斑斓硬件产品，证明了计算机硬件不一定是“冷库、黑暗的盒子”。

这两个设计机构参与了Graphcore人工智能芯片系统的工业设计，它们的芯片有助于加快人工智能的进程和资源密集型部署。

这些产品包括智能处理单元（IPU）和支撑它的钢架底盘，这款产品是该公司自己使用的中央处理器。

Pentagram and Map have set out to prove that computer hardware doesn't have to be "cold, dark boxes", by designing colourful products for machine-learning technology startup Graphcore.
The two design agencies have collaborated on the industrial design of Graphcore's artificial-intelligence chip system, which helps speed up the process and resource-intensive deployment of AI.
This includes an intelligent processing unit (IPU) – the company's own version of a central processing unit – and the rackmount chassis that contains it.


Pentagram与Map设计机构合作完成了Graphcore人工智能芯片系统的工业设计／Pentagram and Map have collaborated on the industrial design of Graphcore's artificial-intelligence chip system

Luke Powell与Jody Hudson-Powell是Pentagram设计机构的合伙人，这家设计机构位于英国伦敦。两位设计师为这个品牌开发了一套视觉识别系统，该系统包括像素字体和一款定制的名为“Quadtree”的软件工具，用于生成独特的几何图形。

他们希望伦敦Map工作室将其转化为物理设计，从而能够代表个性和“变化的潜力”。

他们旨在设计出一种产品，用于替代“无名的”的计算机系统，这种系统通常“使用在寒冷、黑暗的空间里”。

London-based Pentagram partners Luke Powell and Jody Hudson-Powell had already developed a visual identity for the brand, which includes a pixelated typeface and a bespoke software tool called Quadtree that is used to generate unique geometric patterns.
They enlisted London studio Map to help transform this into a physical design, able to represent individuality and "the potential for change".
Their aim was to create an alternative to "anonymous" computer systems, which typically "live in cold, dark boxes in even colder, darkened rooms".


Graphcore的智能处理单元（IPU）由模块化系统组成，这种系统有多种组合方式／Graphcore's intelligent processing unit (IPU) is made of a system of modular tiles that can be assembled in various ways

Pentagram工作室的设计由一系列五颜六色的模块组成，它们可以使用各种方式组装。

Map工作室使用“Quadtree”系统生成新的图案、布局和颜色，并将这些元素转化为可定制的面板系统，该系统由50多块独特的塑料块组成。

Pentagram's design consisted of a series of colourful modular tiles that can be assembled in various ways.
Map translated these elements into a customisable panel system made up of over 50 distinctive injection-moulded plastic tiles, using the Quadtree system to generate patterns, layouts and colours for new tiles.


该设计还包括包含IPU的底盘／The design also includes the rackmount chassis that contains the IPU

该设计机构使用九种塑料块来装饰Graphcore的IPU,而这九种塑料块可以形成1,000多种独特的组合，从而使每个单位都有自己的特征。

芯片外表使用了深蓝色、淡蓝色、粉红色和浅黄色。

The design agency applied nine of these tiles to each Graphcore IPU, allowing for more than 1,000 unique combinations, in turn granting each unit with its own distinct identity.
Each tile is coloured in Graphcore's characteristic palette of navy, light blue, pink and pale yellow.


机架底盘的正面设计使用了Graphcore视觉标志图案作为通风开口／The front face design of the rackmount chassis uses patterns from Graphcore's visual identity as openings for ventilation

设计团队表示：“在大型计算机系统中，设计师很少对产品的美学如此关注。”

“可是，Graphcore的IPU是一项独特的突破性技术，更为重要的是，发布产品恰好反映了这一点。”

机架的正面设计是为了将8个IPU连接在一个系统中，使用Graphcore的视觉标志模式作为通风开口，而品牌的细节也可以附加在气流网格上，更加彰显了它的个性化。

"Affording this much time and care on the aesthetic of a product that largely goes unnoticed inside larger computer systems is unusual," said the design team.
"However, Graphcore's IPU is a unique breakthrough technology, and it is important that the launch products reflects this."
The front face design of the rackmount chassis, which is designed to connect eight IPUs together in a system, uses patterns from Graphcore's visual identity as openings for ventilation, and clip-on branded details can also be attached onto the airflow grid to add extra personalisation.


他们旨在设计出一种产品，能够替代“无名的”计算机系统，这种系统通常“使用在寒冷、黑暗的空间里”／The aim was to create an alternative to "anonymous" computer systems, which typically "live in cold dark boxes in even colder darkened rooms"

这不是Pentagram工作室第一次为一家科技公司设计新品牌。该工作室曾为Cytora保险科技公司设计了一款动画视觉标识，旨在揭开业务运作的神秘面纱。

为了反映Cytora人工智能不断变化的质量，Pentagram工作室使用基于算法的视觉化使公司成为品牌标识，通过不断移动的块、层次分明的色彩和明亮的颜色来展示这家公司。

This is not the first time Pentagram has created a new branding for a tech company – the firm gave insurance tech company Cytora an animated visual identity that aims to demystify how the business works.
To reflect the ever-changing quality of Cytora's artificial-intelligence-powered risk engine, Pentagram used visualisations based on these algorithms to make the company a brand identity, which feature constantly shifting blocks layered with pastel and bright colours.