FROM PENCIL TO PIXEL The Evolution of Design Ideation Tools

This study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) in design processes, focusing on the ideation phase. Utilizing in-depth interviews with experienced designers and an experimental approach with novices, it compares AIGC tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney and Copilot with traditional sketching methods. The findings reveal two distinct operational patterns in AIGC utilization: a subtractive method of refining AI outputs and an additive method of evolving design through AI suggestions. Experienced designers view AIGC as a powerful aid for creative ideation, while novices prefer familiar hand-drawing methods. The study proposes a "Seeing-Instructing-Seeing" model, adapting Schon's reflective practice model, to incorporate the collaborative dynamic between designers and AI, marking a shift from manual to intellectual labor in design ideation. This represents a paradigm shift in design methodologies, suggesting a future of co-creative partnerships between designers and AI tools.