Is pen-to-paper the buggy whip of design? Assessing the use of ai tools for design sketching

Holliman, Freddie and Brisco, Ross (2024) Is pen-to-paper the buggy whip of design? Assessing the use of ai tools for design sketching. Design Research Society Conference Proceedings 2024 DRS2024: Boston, 1 (1). (https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.289)

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Abstract

Sketching is quick and effective, however with the advent of generative AI, do the current generation of novice designers have an alternative? This paper compares the use of sketching and text-to-image generative AI tools to produce initial concept images (“sketches”) by novice designers. This will identify the viability and potential adoption of AI as a replacement, and gauge the adoption willingness of novice designers, replacing sketching. This study compares conventional sketching and AI image generation using first year product design students to record brainstormed initial concepts using both sketching and generative AI tools, this study compares various attributes of both, including ability to represent designer’s intentions. The findings of this study suggest that at present, novice designers continue to prefer conventional sketching with 75% believing that it is more accurate to designers’ intentions and 59.62% believing that it is easier to use.

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