Sketching vs. AI Prompt Based Design Intent Evolution in Undergraduate Students: an Exploratory Study

The use of AI in product design during early creative phases raises questions about its long-term consequences. Concerns are that extended AI use might inhibit creative cognitive processes, especially in novice designers. The aim of this study is to contribute to ongoing research in creative cognition and creative support tools such as AI in design. We conducted an exploratory study with 61 undergraduate students to analyze design exploration in sketching versus AI concept generation. The results indicate that AI groups produced a higher quantity and variation of total ideas (including text-based ideas), while sketch groups generated more image-based ideas. It was inconclusive whether the final image concepts from both AI and sketch groups were more creative. Additionally, homogenization effects were observed in the AI groups. Moreover, while the evolution of the design intent was evident in students who sketched, the focus in AI groups appeared to shift towards the tool (AI), which we analyzed as different design space exploration (DSE) prompting styles.