Developing a Digital Illustration Curriculum Based on A/R/Tography: Integrating AI-Generated Art and Chinese- Spanish Heritage Patterns for Cross-Cultural Education

A/R/Tography, as a research framework that integrates artistic creation (A), research (R), and teaching (T), provides new possibilities for digital art education. This study explores the application of Generative AI (AIGC) in heritage pattern design by integrating AI-generated art with A/R/Tography theory to develop a structured digital illustration curriculum. The course framework comprises symbolic deconstruction, AI-assisted pattern generation, digital reconfiguration, and cross-cultural adaptation, enabling students to engage critically with Chinese and Spanish heritage motifs, such as Sanxingdui totems, Forbidden City cloud and dragon patterns, Alhambra geometric structures, and Arabesque floral ornaments. By closely working with AI Agents, students will analyze and generate heritage symbols and optimize AI-created patterns through manual double-checking and cultural adaptation, ensuring aesthetic authenticity and global applicability. Findings indicate that AI enhances efficiency, accessibility, and innovation in heritage design education, whereas human intervention remains essential for cultural accuracy and creative extension. This research demonstrates that AI+A/R/Tography not only enriches artistic pedagogy, but also fosters cross-cultural dialogue, interdisciplinary learning, and the global dissemination of heritage art in the era of digitalization.