Design Thinking in the Age of AI: Comparing Traditional and AI-Assisted Creativity in Architectural Design

Format: On Campus
Number of Students: 10
Duration of Project: 5 days / 23-27 June 2025
Project Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Güliz Özorhon
Research Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Design Education, Creativity in Design
Research Group:
Güliz Özorhon
Gülbin Lekesiz
Dilara Nitelik Gelirli
Can Müezzinoğlu
Application Deadline: 30 May 2025

Project Description:

This project explores how different design approaches—traditional and AI-assisted—affect participants’ creativity, problem-solving strategies, and design outcomes. Participants will be divided into two groups:

• Group A (Traditional Design Process): Uses conventional methods such as sketching, physical modeling, and scenario writing.
• Group B (AI-Assisted Design Process): Utilizes AI tools to generate design concepts and integrates them into the workflow.

By comparing the two approaches, this study aims to assess how AI influences creativity, design decision-making, and problem-solving efficiency.

Project Objectives:

• (O1) Compare traditional and AI-assisted design approaches in terms of creativity, problem-solving, and efficiency.
• (O2) Analyze how AI influences students’ decision-making and creative autonomy.
• (O3) Evaluate the effectiveness of AI as a design tool in educational settings.

Project Tasks:

• Develop design concepts using either traditional methods (sketching, modeling) or AI-assisted tools (text-to-image, image-to-image generation).
• Refine initial designs through iteration and adaptation within the assigned approach.
• Finalize and document design outcomes, reflecting on key design decisions.
• Participate in surveys and interviews to provide insights into the design process.

Deliverables:

• Individual design outcomes (traditional vs. AI-assisted).
• Final presentations showcasing workflow and key insights.

Benefits for the Students:
Participants will:

• Experience a structured design workflow in either traditional or AI-assisted formats.
• Gain insight into AI’s role in design education and future practices.
• Strengthen their ability to document and reflect on their design decisions.

Requirements:

Interest in design, problem-solving, and AI technologies.
Completed at least 60 ECTS.
GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Click for Google Form.