Redefining Creativity in Design: Exploring the Impact of AI-Generated Imagery on Design Professionals and Amateurs

This research investigates how AI image generation technologies like DALL-E, RunwayML, and Adobe Firefly impact the field of visual design, engaging 100 participants from both design and non-design backgrounds in surveys, practical tasks, and interviews. It aims to explore whether AI tools could replace human designers and how design education affects the creation of complex, high-quality images. The study highlights the importance of design fundamentals and digital tool proficiency in generating AI images, noting a significant difference in the quality and creativity of outputs between trained designers and those without design backgrounds. Results suggest that design education enables more effective use of AI for creating visually appealing and well-structured content, emphasizing the need for a strong understanding of design principles in an AI-integrated future.