Strategic Applications of Generative AI in Design Education

A strategic approach to integrating generative AI (GAI) into design education is explored in this article to enhance students’ creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills. Based on a cross-departmental initiative at National United University, Taiwan, a multi-level curriculum is proposed, combining foundational to applied courses. A five-phase design process, problem definition, attribute framing, keyword extraction, AI generation, and refinement, was used to guide student learning tools, including ChatGPT (powered by GPT-4o), Stable Diffusion XL (SDXL) 1.0, and Leonardo.ai (Phoenix model), supporting rapid ideation and decision-making. Case studies in industrial and architectural design demonstrate practical applications. Ethical issues are reviewed. The results show increased engagement, idea diversity, and faster iteration in student design work.