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Like many of us in higher education, Generative AI in Higher Education has been a pressing topic this semester. The conversation isn’t confined to my circle; it’s spreading across the fields of art and design education. From academic conferences to faculty development workshops, the discussion about integrating AI into our teaching and learning environments is prolific. Opinions vary from enthusiastic adoption to hesitant resistance and outright bans.

The Ethical Quandary of AI in Interior Design

While there are many issues to consider, including ethical concerns, I’m particularly excited about the potential for AI in interior design, my area of expertise. Some view using AI as a form of cheating, and thus, understanding what is happening in the classroom and with my peers has been somewhat elusive. However, these ethical debates are nothing new and represent the next phase in an ever-evolving conversation about authorship and ownership within a capitalist context.

Technology and Efficiency: Too Many Choices!

In interior design, we’ve adapted to new technologies for years—from Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) to Building Information Modeling (BIM). These tools promise faster processes but also come with their own sets of challenges. Like any new technology, they might make tasks quicker but at the cost of presenting us with more options, thereby complicating decision-making. In this context, Generative AI could be another double-edged sword, promising efficiency but potentially overwhelming us with choices.

AI’s Role in Unlocking Creative Potential

Where AI has been most beneficial is in my creative and administrative processes. Starting with a blank page can be daunting, but AI in brainstorming has proven effective. For my design students, sometimes simply getting started is the most formidable part. One strategy I’ve employed is asking an AI chatbot to generate questions that help in developing a project brief. Answering these questions often unclogs the mental barriers and helps ideas flow.

Overcoming Creative Blocks with AI and SCAMPER

Given the fast-paced nature of academic appointments, which often come with heavy service burdens, my mind frequently switches between a range of tasks, making it challenging to enter a state of creative flow. I have found that using AI tools at this early stage helps me achieve that state more quickly. I believe this approach could also benefit design students who may experience creative blocks. I sometimes suggest using the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) technique to systematically explore different processes and see their work from a fresh perspective. AI chatbots and image generators could assist in this process by rapidly providing numerous ideas on how to view their work from new angles, thus revitalizing the creative process.

Homogenization vs. Individuality: A Continuing Challenge

As a tool in the design process, a fear emerges that over-reliance on AI will stifle individual creative voices and lead to a homogeneity of ideas. I would argue that we are already profoundly grappling with this problem in design pedagogy. When I started my design education, studying set design at Marymount Manhattan College, the internet was still in its early stages, and platforms like Google Images and Pinterest did not exist or had just been launched. To find inspiration, I would visit the NYC Public Library picture collection and search for images that would inspire my design concepts. I can still recall the excitement of carrying that oversized Velcro-locking green notebook home from the library filled with the images I had selected. My search was limited to the terms I could come up with at the time and to the curation and availability of the library collection. This limitation was sometimes good, forcing me to interpret a few images creatively.

My students are inundated with images from platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Google Image search even before AI. This flood of imagery, driven by algorithms and promoted posts, has already influenced the emergence of a homogenized aesthetic. In fact, there was a time when many of my students’ projects, regardless of context or concept, showcased smooth arches and the color “millennial pink,” reflecting the design zeitgeist of the late 2010s. This can be attributed to a lack of creative process, but it also highlights that the challenges posed by AI-induced homogeneity are not new. The key, as educators, is to guide students in finding inspiration from diverse and unexpected sources, pushing them beyond their algorithmic filter bubbles.

The Resurgence of Analog Techniques

Interestingly, I’ve noticed a resurgence in students expressing interest in analog design techniques like sketching and using trace paper. AI image generators might actually place a premium on the imperfections of analog work. The messiness of a trace paper overlay, a smudged line, or a handwritten note can all serve as evidence of human intervention, and we may find ourselves seeking out these imperfections as novel reminders of the human creative process. Could this be a reaction to the proliferation of AI tools and a reminder of the unique human touch in design?

The Irreplaceable Value of Human Creativity in Design

The fear of AI entirely replacing human creativity in art and design seems distant for now. However, it serves as a crucial reminder for us to reevaluate the value of human insight, empathy, and nuanced understanding. Celebrating face-to-face connections, embracing pen-to-paper processes, and cultivating mindful attention to the present moment may help us navigate this new reality. In the meantime, we continue to curate, sift through, and discern an ever-growing mountain of digital content – designers are uniquely positioned for this work as we continue searching for a more equitable, healthy, and beautiful world.

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