Integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools into the Industrial Design Process
Aim and Scope
This project explores the integration of generative artificial intelligence tools into industrial design processes, with a particular focus on concept development, product development, and prototyping. Conducted within the framework of the BAP 146 project, the study examines how AI-supported tools can contribute to creative thinking, visual exploration, and the transformation of ideas into tangible outcomes.
The scope of the project includes the use of generative AI during different stages of the design process, from early-stage ideation to the development of physical and digital prototypes. It also investigates the relationship between human creativity and AI-generated outputs, addressing both the opportunities and challenges that emerge when AI becomes part of the design workflow.
Significance
The significance of this project lies in its focus on the practical and critical integration of generative AI into industrial design education and design processes. Rather than approaching AI merely as a visual production tool, the project examines its broader impact on idea generation, decision-making, design communication, and prototype development.
Its innovative dimension stems from bringing together creative experimentation, design education, and research-based inquiry within a single framework. By comparing AI-supported design practices with conventional approaches, the project reveals how generative AI can expand creative possibilities while also introducing new questions related to authorship, interpretation, prompt construction, production feasibility, and designer agency. In this sense, the project contributes not only to design practice but also to the ongoing discussion on the future role of AI in creative disciplines.
Objectives
The main objective of the project is to provide insight into how generative AI tools can be integrated into industrial design processes in meaningful and productive ways. It aims to understand how these tools influence design outcomes as well as the experiences, strategies, and decision-making processes of designers throughout concept generation and product development.
More specifically, the project seeks to:
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investigate the role of generative AI in concept development and product development stages,
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examine how AI-generated visuals affect creativity, design exploration, and communication,
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evaluate the transition from AI-assisted ideas to physical and digital prototypes,
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identify the challenges and limitations encountered during AI-supported design workflows,
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and contribute to future discussions on the use of AI in industrial design education and practice.
These objectives position the project as both an academic inquiry and a practical exploration of emerging human-AI collaboration in design.
Partners
