“Some students may generate concepts that are imaginative but need evaluation,” Sun said. “The goal is not to create images quickly, but to develop reasoning, sensitivity, and deliberate design choices. AI can help accelerate iteration, but it’s student judgment that drives the outcome.” By thoughtfully integrating AI, students develop perceptual and design judgments that emerge through project practice, understanding human emotions and user needs, and translating abstract ideas into concrete design solutions. This is about the responsible use of AI as a collaborative approach in AI-assisted design.
Self-directed learning is central to Sun’s approach. She has spent years developing online educational platforms that support students’ exploration of AI and cross-disciplinary knowledge. The platform helps users learn independently, interact responsibly with AI tools, and stay current in a rapidly evolving field.
“AI has no opinion,” Sun points out. “AI can repeat information, but it cannot make decisions. Students must learn how to guide the AI with their own reasoning, curiosity, and ethical considerations. This is at the core of humanizing AI in education.”
Through this approach, UC Industrial Design students are discovering how AI can enhance creativity and reasoning without replacing the human judgment and emotional intelligence that define good design.
Sun will present his research at the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction and publish it in Design Management Journal.
Featured image at top: Rendering of the vehicle’s interior design. Photo provided.
