AIDED: II (The AI Design Ed project #2)

Project leader(s): Catherine Scott AnnMarie McKenna

Theme: Technologies for STEM learning
Project faculties: STEM
Status: Current
Date: February 2026 to December 2026

This project looks to investigate the practicalities and implications of using GenAI as a participant in a creative problem-solving session, specifically as a member of a brainstorming team responding to a defined problem statement.

Brainstorming is a legitimate creative-problem-solving technique, used across all of the OU’s design modules (and more widely across other OU modules, such as business). It is a core design-thinking tool used ubiquitously within design and business industries and frequently within education and social sectors.

Our focus is on the practical, transparent, and ethical application of AI technology within existing (and future) OU design education criteria, seeking to identify clearly evidenced, relative advantages over conventional tools and techniques. As with the original project (AIDED #1) – where we investigated the effectiveness of GenAI image creation software, compared to conventional visual communication tools, in visually representing existing designs and problem contexts – we will again make direct comparisons between the effectiveness of conventional practice and GenAI supported practice. Level 1 design students (already familiar with the process) will undertake brainstorming sessions, with and without GenAI as a contributor, followed by evaluative discussions.

Anticipated outcomes

Evidenced recommendations on best practice incorporation of AI within the creative problem-solving toolkit of OU design students (and OU students more widely).
A possible viable alternative for students with limited access to peer collaboration.

Impact on staff and students

Clear, practical guidance for staff and students on AI use in this context.
Potential enhancement of students’ problem-solving skills for academic and subsequent professional contexts
Greater inclusion for isolated students, supporting inclusive and flexible design learning.