AI and generative design class debuts at Ohio State

“When Gaëtan Robillard arrived at The Ohio State University last August, he was excited about the opportunities awaiting him. Ten months later, he is teaching one of the university’s new AI-focused classes: DESIGN 5193, AI and Generative Design – the first in the design department. “The field is very narrow in France, where I came from,” said Robillard , assistant professor for computational visual design. “It’s a niche thing there. In the U.S., there was a need. That need and my path met.” Robillard’s class, available to undergraduate and graduate students, is part of a larger initiative at the university. AI Fluency allows students to develop a rich understanding of how AI can be used in their chosen field of study. “Ohio State is a good example of how a university can transform in the AI era,” he said. “I’m happy to contribute to this dynamic with my course as well as my research in AI, art and design.” Before diving into using AI, Robillard will walk students through the technology’s history. The question of using technology in the arts is not a new one, he said. “This goes back to the 1960s,” he said. “Now, software like Adobe is everywhere. It’s a core component of design. With AI, it’s worth it to ask, ‘Where is my agency as a designer or an artist? How does this relationship work?’ It’s a question we should ask – we shouldn’t forget about it. But that relationship has shifted in a big way.” Robillard also wants students to grasp the impact of AI and generative media. “Generative media is spreading on the internet,” he said. “It’s a media phenomenon. So we’re looking at not just AI as a tool but AI as a system.” Students will complete a series of creative projects that cover skills like developing prompts for AI generators, creating thematic atlases and exploring AI frameworks. “I want students to be able to design interactions with AI in things like smart watches,” Robillard said. “They will make design choices as to how we relate to AI in our daily life.” Thywill Olude is a graduate student in Robillard’s class. Working with emerging technologies is one of the reasons he’s studying at Ohio State. “I have a background in art – I used to paint,” he said. “When I saw this class, I wanted to explore how tools like AI can be helpful in creating art beyond using traditional tools.” Olude said he and other artist friends used to view technology with some skepticism. As they’ve developed and matured, though, that’s no longer the case. “One way or another, we’ve always accepted technology, whether we like it or not,” he said. “It’s your reality at the moment. The best you could do is embrace it.” Joining Olude in the class is Maria Palazzi , Ohio Eminent Scholar in Art and Design Technology and professor of design. She hopes to learn from Robillard’s curriculum and best practices. “Obviously, AI is going to become an important aspect of the way designers practice,” she said. “I want designers to be able to make informed choices about the way in which they’re going to use AI. That means I have to be informed, too.” Ensuring that her students are ready for an AI world is a driving force, Palazzi said. Working with AI as developers, instead of just consuming it, will help direct how it should be used in and out of the classroom. “We want to prepare our students for the future they’re going to face with these new tools.”

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