FROM VISUAL ART TO FICTIONAL SPACE THROUGH THE EKPHRASIS METHOD: AN AI-SUPPORTED DESIGN PROCESS

This study aims to examine fictional space designs inspired by works of art through the method of ekphrasis and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Within the scope of the research, artworks from different periods and artistic movements were selected; students analyzed these works in terms of their conceptual, sensory, and formal aspects and developed spatial scenarios using the method of ekphrasis. The resulting spatial scenarios were provided as input to artificial intelligence tools, and fictional space designs were created based on these texts. The implementation process was carried out with third-year students from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Istanbul Gedik University. The findings reveal that when the reference artworks were analyzed in terms of composition, theme, content, historical context, symbolism, and formal elements, these components significantly influence the decisions related to the form, function, color, material, and texture of the resulting fictional spaces. Another finding of the research shows that artificial intelligence tools, beyond being mere production instruments, actively contribute to the design process by enabling design students to transform their intuitive decisions into visual representations. However, although these tools introduce flexibility into the design process by offering alternative production possibilities during the visualization stage, it is important that their use is not limited to technical skills alone; rather, it should be supported by interdisciplinary methods such as ekphrasis, as well as by skills in contextual interpretation, conceptual analysis, and narrative construction for their effective contribution to the process. For future studies, it is recommended that the method be applied to different disciplines and implemented with larger sample groups.