Enhancing human computer collaboration in design process: How AI-generated content elevates students’ creativity

In design education, fostering students’ creativity is crucial because it directly impacts the quality of their design outcomes. As artificial intelligence develops rapidly, exploring the potential of artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) in fostering students’ creativity has become paramount. This study experimentally investigates the impact of design processes based on different design methods, including the AIGC-based method and the traditional design method, on the intrinsic motivation and creative outcomes of design students. Utilizing a mixed-methods research approach, this between-subjects experiment involved 52 student participants and examined the two methods across different stages of design learning. This study demonstrates that AIGC significantly enhances the design learning effect by improving usability, boosting students’ intrinsic motivation and learning experiences, and elevating creativity, while pointing out limitations like overdependence on AI and learning barriers that must be addressed for sustainable integration and long-term effectiveness. This study provides empirical evidence and theoretical guidance for the application of AIGC in design learning, offering support for future research on the impact of AIGC on creativity in interdisciplinary learning environments.