AI-generated inspiration for the design process: effects across the vividness of visual imagery spectrum
Lebron Flores, M. O., & Moacdieh, N. M. (2026). Ai-generated inspiration for the design process: effects across the vividness of visual imagery spectrum. International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation, 1–19. doi:10.1080/21650349.2026.2629810
Authors
- Manuel Osvaldo Lebron Flores1
- Nadine Marie Moacdieh1
What This Study Is About
Researchers wanted to know if using AI-generated images for inspiration helps people design better, especially those with aphantasia—the "blind mind's eye" where a person cannot voluntarily create mental imagery (pictures in their head). They wondered if AI could act as a digital substitute for a missing internal imagination.
How They Studied It
The team worked with 40 university students. First, they measured where each person fell on the imagery spectrum, from aphantasia to hyperphantasia (having movie-like mental images).
Participants were asked to design a "wireframe"—which is like a basic blueprint or skeleton—for a shoe-selling website. Half the group was shown AI-generated images of shoe websites for inspiration, while the other half had to start from scratch. The researchers then tracked how long they took, how accurate their designs were, and how they felt about the process.
What They Found
The results were a bit of a surprise! Using AI didn't actually make the designs better, nor did it make the work faster. In fact, the people who used AI inspiration reported a *worse* user experience; they felt less satisfied and less confident in their work.
However, there was a silver lining for the aphantasia community. Usually, people who can picture things easily have a much better time designing than those who can't. But when AI was used, that gap disappeared. The AI seemed to "level the playing field," making the experience similar for everyone, regardless of their ability to visualize.
What This Might Mean
This suggests that AI might be a double-edged sword. It can provide a "visual starting line" for people who struggle to come up with ideas in their heads, but it might also make the creative process feel more frustrating or less "yours."
We should be careful with these results, though. This was a small study with only 40 people, so it *suggests* a trend rather than *proving* one. We need more research to see if professional designers with aphantasia feel the same way.
One Interesting Detail
Even though the AI-generated images were full of weird errors and gibberish typos, they still influenced the participants! People who saw the AI images were significantly more likely to use colored backgrounds in their designs, showing that AI can "plant a seed" for an idea even if the image itself is imperfect.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.