This course aims to equip students with the practical skills and critical insights needed to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven product design. Through hands-on projects and collaboration with industry professionals, students will explore how generative AI tools can address real-world design challenges while ensuring ethical and inclusive outcomes. By engaging in a project-based learning environment, students will develop self-directed learning competencies, enhance their academic mindset, and refine their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, preparing them for impactful roles in the design industry.

Students will collaboratively apply AI tools to real-world design challenges, focusing on creating socially responsible and inclusive solutions. They will explore AI feedback loops, conducting user testing to identify and address gaps between system capabilities and user needs. Through critique and revision, students will refine their designs, integrating ethical considerations and industry insights. By engaging with community partners, they will leverage generative AI to tackle authentic problems, redefining their roles as designers while mitigating biases in AI tools.

Throughout this course, students will collaboratively develop AI-driven design prototypes that address real-world challenges, focusing on ethical and inclusive outcomes. By the end of the semester, each student will have a polished prototype ready for presentation, showcasing their ability to leverage generative AI tools effectively. Additionally, students will compile a comprehensive synthesis playbook that documents their learning journey, reflections, and insights on AI's impact on design roles and responsibilities.

Begin the course with a collaborative design challenge where students use generative AI tools to address a real-world problem presented by a community partner. This initial activity will set the stage for the semester by encouraging students to explore AI's capabilities and limitations in a hands-on setting. Students will form teams to brainstorm, prototype, and present their initial ideas, fostering an immediate sense of identity and belonging within the learning community.

Students will showcase their AI-driven design prototypes during a final demo day, presenting to a panel of industry experts, community partners, and peers. Each student will articulate the technical and social implications of their designs, highlighting how generative AI tools were leveraged to address real-world challenges. The exhibition will include interactive stations where attendees can engage with the prototypes, providing feedback and discussing potential improvements. This event will foster dialogue on ethical and inclusive design practices, encouraging students to reflect on their learning journey and the broader impact of AI in product design.