Communicating AI for Architectural and Interior Design: Reinterpreting Traditional Iznik Tile Compositions through AI Software for Contemporary Spaces

Artificial intelligence (AI), which has a strong potential to assist architects in conceptual and visualization stages, has been increasingly used in the field of design and architecture. This study, focusing on the AI tools that generate images from texts and offer innovative solutions to design problems, aims to evaluate the use of AI for the reinterpretation of traditional Iznik tile patterns and colors in the context of architectural design and modern interiors. The methodology consists of four stages, which are the selection of AI tools (Copilot, DALL-E 2, DALL-E 3, Midjourney), the preparation of textual prompts for testing “çini” (tile) expression, testing of the AI tools’ perception of the concepts related to Iznik tile motifs, and the creation of prompt series. The findings of our study provide evidence that current AI tools exhibit distinct features in terms of variety, conceptualization, artistic visualization, and image production, while they are hardly equipped with the necessary conceptual background to communicate with the designers for the interpretation of the traditional Iznik tiles in contemporary architectural design. Specifically, Midjourney, which could produce historically referenced contemporary designs in response to textual expressions, was more successful than other AI tools. DALL-E 2 could not visualize the expressions concerning the placement of the Iznik tile surfaces in interior spaces but was quite inspiring in terms of the images regarding the tile pattern and color. DALL-E 3 and Copilot tools produced similar images in terms of color palette and patterns, whereas DALL-E 3 was better at visualizing spatial data. Our results reveal that AI tools still need to be developed for analyzing traditional patterns, styles, and forms for contemporary design purposes. On the other hand, AI tools can develop innovative approaches, optimize the tile production procedure, and have the potential to accelerate the design process for designers by generating new and diverse ideas.