<scp>stickynexus</scp>: Leveraging Sticky Note Interactions to Improve Information Management in Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Design

Abstract Effective information collection and management are crucial for creative design. Recently, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has become an essential tool for helping designers access multidisciplinary information and expand their creative space. However, the vast amount of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated information can overwhelm designers, complicating the distillation of key insights. Additionally, current conversational AI tools are inadequate in supporting nonlinear design thinking, which is critical for innovative outcomes. To address these challenges, we propose stickynexus, which supports designers in navigating and synthesizing diverse information from both global and local perspectives when collaborating with AI. stickynexus enables designers to construct comprehensive design concepts by analyzing relationships among clusters of sticky notes, and it promotes further divergence and iterative refinement based on individual sticky note insights. Our user study (N=18) shows that stickynexus significantly enhances designers’ ability to explore detailed information, unlocking new design possibilities and fostering creative exploration.