Abstract:

In August 2023, the "Sketch I.A.A.R" project was conducted with first-semester students from the School of Creative Studies at Tecnológico de Monterrey, including participants from architecture, industrial design, digital art, communication, and music production programs. This project aimed to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) into the design process to enhance student creativity, optimize design proposals, and validate these proposals through immersive visualization.

Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the project employed validated instruments such as the "Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire" (MSLQ) to measure engagement and learning outcomes. The objective was to assess the impact of AI and AR on developing design skills, understanding advanced technologies, and fostering innovative thinking.

Students began the design process with hand-drawn sketches and physical models created in the studio, fostering initial creativity and exploration. These traditional methods were then enhanced using advanced AI and AR tools, including Leonardo A.I, Midjourney, Tripo 3D A.I, and Sketchfab. AI tools were employed to automatically generate and optimize design proposals, resulting in higher quality and more efficient outputs. The integration of AR allowed for the creation of 3D models that could be visualized in a real-world context, providing a unique and immersive way for students to evaluate the feasibility and impact of their designs.

These AI and AR tools significantly aided the ideation process during the design phase, helping students to expand their creative horizons and overcome creative blocks. By leveraging AI, students learned how to utilize these technologies effectively to generate new ideas and enhance their designs when they felt creatively stuck. This experience broadened their understanding of how to apply AI in a practical and beneficial manner.

Students from diverse creative fields collaboratively conceptualized various design proposals, leveraging AI and AR tools for optimization and validation. This process not only demonstrated the project's effectiveness in enhancing design competencies but also underscored the importance of immersive technologies in promoting student engagement and innovative thinking.

The findings reveal that AI and AR are potent tools for facilitating creative and innovative thinking, significantly impacting students' design proficiencies. By highlighting the successful application of AI and AR in an educational setting, this research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on technology-enhanced learning and offers a replicable model for future educational innovations. The project underscores the transformative potential of these technologies, advocating for their broader adoption in higher education to foster a more engaged, competent, and innovative student body.

In summary, "Sketch I.A.A.R" exemplifies the cutting-edge integration of AI and AR in education, providing students with the tools and skills necessary to excel in creative design. This project not only enhances the educational experience but also prepares students for the evolving demands of the professional world, making a significant contribution to educational innovation in higher education.

Keywords:

Educational Innovation, Higher Education, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Creative Design.