Can designers and AI flourish together?

Abstract

Ever since the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the 1950s, it has been the subject of intense interest, offering the possibility of disrupting industries across a range of sectors. In the creative industries, AI is now being used to produce a range of creative works. In relation to design, AI offers new possibilities and is coupled with new challenges for what it means to be a designer. AI also enables cost-effective businesses and improvements to customer experience by analysing users’ behaviour patterns in real time and then providing customised services, allowing companies to target potential customers more effectively. These examples raise the question of whether AI will have a positive impact on design and designers. This provocation highlights some of the critical issues designers will have to consider if they are flourishing alongside AI.