Kean Interior Design Students Learn to Balance Creativity and AI in New Course

At Kean University’s Robert Busch School of Design, part of Michael Graves College, students in the AI in Interior Design course are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can support but not replace the creative process at the core of design.

The course, led by Adjunct Professor Jae Woun Kim, introduces a hybrid approach that begins with traditional methods such as sketching and concept development before incorporating AI tools to expand and refine ideas. The goal is not to rely on technology, but to use it intentionally.

“Interior design has always been grounded in creativity and human experience,” said David Mohney, dean of Kean’s Michael Graves College. “This course demonstrates how AI can be integrated thoughtfully into that process, giving students new tools while reinforcing the core principles of design."

Kim developed the course after years of professional experience in interior design and early exploration of AI’s role in creative fields. While earning her master’s degree during the COVID-19 pandemic, she pursued additional training in AI for Creativity and Leadership at Parsons School of Design and now brings that insight directly to her course after being hired at Kean by Kean’s Interior Design Program Coordinator Manuel Divino with this class in mind. 

“My focus is on helping students use AI as a tool to expand their creativity, not replace it,” Kim said. “Once they develop a strong concept through sketching and research, certain AI tools help them visualize their ideas more efficiently.”

In practice, students move step-by-step through the design process, starting with hand-drawn ideas before integrating tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Midjourney and Prome AI. This workflow allows them to test concepts quickly while maintaining ownership of their work.

“Creating a full rendering typically would take several days,” Kim said. “Once students have their vision mapped out, they can produce high-quality visuals in just a few hours. That gives them more time to refine their concepts and push their creativity further.”

The course is already influencing students beyond the classroom. Graduates like Sarah Jolly ’24 are applying these skills in professional settings, including her role as a project associate at EvensonBest, a premier furniture dealership, where she contributes to design projects and furniture specifications.

“It is important to keep up with how quickly AI is evolving,” Jolly said. “We don’t want our industry to become one that is taken over by AI, so it’s important to show employers that we can use it to our advantage while students continue to think for themselves."

As part of Kean University’s expanding AI ecosystem, the course reflects a growing effort to integrate artificial intelligence into diverse fields of study. 

By grounding AI in traditional design practices, the course also signals a broader shift in how future designers are being trained, with an emphasis both technical fluency and creative integrity.