Redefining Creativity: How Does Generative AI Affect the Architectural Design Thinking Process

Presented at the 2024 UTokyo–SNU–NCCU Joint Symposium. My talk examined how architects are beginning to integrate generative AI into their conceptual design stages and what this means for architectural creativity.

I contrasted traditional design processes (site analysis, client needs, aesthetic vision) with emerging practices using AI tools such as Midjourney. The presentation highlighted both possibilities and limitations: novel prompts and unexpected outcomes on one hand, and concerns over practicality, bias, authorship, and homogenization on the other.

Drawing on interviews, online content analysis, and competition examples, I raised questions about whether AI-assisted conceptual design might emerge as a distinct “genre” within architectural practice, and how this could reshape the relationship between architects, clients, and tools.