AI | Product Design

innowiz

AI in DESIGN
Enhancing creativity, not replacing it

AI is already transforming the design industry, and its influence continues to grow. Whether we teach our Industrial Product Design students at Howest Kortrijk (Belgium) about AI or not, they will inevitably use it. That’s why we take an active and supportive approach—helping them understand both its potential and its limitations. Our goal is to ensure they use AI thoughtfully and responsibly—not as a shortcut, but as a tool to enhance their skills while preserving creativity and critical thinking.

OUR FIVE KEY PRINCIPLES

Understanding AI Concepts – Knowing how AI works, its capabilities, and its limitations.
Problem-Solving with AI – Using AI to analyze complex challenges.
AI in Design – Integrating AI effectively into the design workflow.
Strengthening Critical Thinking – Critically evaluating AI output and refining it when needed.
Ethical & Responsible Use – Considering AI’s impact, risks, and responsible application.

By embracing these principles, students don’t just use AI—they learn to guide it effectively and ethically within the design process.

Learning by Doing

At IPO, we believe in learning by doing. That’s why we encourage students to actively experiment with AI, exploring techniques such as CMF-based prompt building to generate material, color, and finish variations, photorealistic rendering to transform sketches or prototype images into high-quality visuals, and AI-driven design variation to explore and refine concepts.

One thing is clear: AI’s full potential is still unfolding, and its capabilities are evolving rapidly, with new applications emerging almost daily.

AI as a Creative Amplifier

One of AI’s greatest strengths is its ability to expand & accelerate the exploration phase. Students can generate more ideas in less time and uncover insights they might otherwise miss. Instead of limiting creativity, AI stimulates it—offering fresh perspectives and leading to unexpected but valuable solutions.

Beyond concept development and visualization, AI also plays a key role in problem definition by assisting with: Data analysis & trend identification, Functional analysis, User journey mapping and much more.

Many students find these analytical tasks challenging, yet they are just as crucial as creativity in developing successful designs. AI helps bridge this gap, proving its immense value in both ideation and analysis.

Staying in Control

Despite AI’s advantages, it’s far from perfect. The saying “Garbage in = Garbage out” applies—AI’s output is only as good as the input. That’s why it’s essential for students to stay in control, critically assess results, and refine AI-generated content. A great designer doesn’t use AI blindly but guides it purposefully with clear instructions, deep knowledge, and creative insight.

The Bottom Line: AI doesn’t replace the design process—it strengthens it. The core steps remain the same, but AI enables students to experiment faster, push boundaries, and make more informed decisions. The designer stays in control.