COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF HUMAN- AND AI-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACHES; A FUTURISTIC INTERIOR SPACE CONCEPT

This study comparatively examines the impact of human-led digital modelling processes and AI-assisted design approaches on the development of a futuristic interior space. The case study, conducted in the entrance and lobby area of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of İstanbul Gelişim University in Avcılar, Istanbul, is structured in two main phases. In the first phase, the designer developed a formal and functional concept using conventional software tools; in the second phase, alternative proposals were generated through AI-based visualizations. In the final stage, the outputs obtained from the AI visualizations were integrated into the conventional visual representations. The study reveals that while artificial intelligence provides significant advantages in terms of conceptual richness, aesthetic diversity, and speed, human expertise remains indispensable for ensuring ergonomics, scale accuracy, and detailed technical resolution. The analysis was carried out under the themes of form and aesthetics, process and control, functionality, user experience, and spatial meaning. The findings demonstrate that AI acts as a creative catalyst particularly during the concept development stages; however, the decisive factor in achieving an implementable design output is the contribution of human expertise. In conclusion, the study shows that a hybrid approach holds considerable potential for developing sustainable and original solutions in the interior design of the future.