Abstract
This study explores the changing skills of industrial designers in the age of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). It combines a systematic literature review covering 2020–2025 with a practice based investigation involving six designers who actively use GenAI in their design processes. Focusing on both novice and expert designers, the study examines how GenAI influences skill development through the lenses of upskilling, reskilling, and deskilling. The findings show that while GenAI enhances creativity, idea generation, and visualization, it also brings challenges such as increased cognitive load, information reliability issues, and a decline in production awareness. Differences between novice and expert designers reveal that experience level plays a key role in how GenAI driven transformations affect design skills. Overall, the study demonstrates that GenAI not only accelerates creative processes but also reshapes the cognitive and practical dimensions of industrial design practice.
Keywords
generative artificial intelligence; industrial design process; design skills
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.868
Citation
Eser, A., and Altiparmakogullari, Y. (2026) Changing Skills of Industrial Designers in the Age of GenAI: A Systematic and Practice Based Study, in Simeone, L., Gray, C. M., Verhoeven, A., de Götzen, A., Bakırlıoğlu, Y., Zohar, H., Stead, M., and Buwert, P. (eds.), DRS2026: Edinburgh, 8–12 June, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2026.868
Creative Commons License
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Included in
Changing Skills of Industrial Designers in the Age of GenAI: A Systematic and Practice Based Study
This study explores the changing skills of industrial designers in the age of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). It combines a systematic literature review covering 2020–2025 with a practice based investigation involving six designers who actively use GenAI in their design processes. Focusing on both novice and expert designers, the study examines how GenAI influences skill development through the lenses of upskilling, reskilling, and deskilling. The findings show that while GenAI enhances creativity, idea generation, and visualization, it also brings challenges such as increased cognitive load, information reliability issues, and a decline in production awareness. Differences between novice and expert designers reveal that experience level plays a key role in how GenAI driven transformations affect design skills. Overall, the study demonstrates that GenAI not only accelerates creative processes but also reshapes the cognitive and practical dimensions of industrial design practice.