Where AI and Design Meet - Designers’ Perceptions of AI Tools

The creative industries are at a significant turning point, blurring the lines between human innovation and machine efficiency due to the advent of AI tools for design. This research addresses the design community’s reaction to generative AI’s rapid ascent. Involving both professionals and students, this paper uses a survey (n=49), focus groups (n=6), and interviews (n=6), to explore the perspectives on AI’s role in creative workflows, revealing a mix of enthusiasm and dread for its potential to enhance innovation and concerns about its fit in traditionally human realms. The prevailing view frames AI as a partner or co-worker in design, yet calls for ethical considerations and transparent practices in its applications. This exploration aims to understand current designer attitudes and presents an initial framework for the adoption of AI tools in the designer’s workflow.