As generative artificial intelligence (GAI) becomes increasingly integrated into the design domain, research has begun to explore how it can be meaningfully incorporated into traditional design practices, fostering the development of more collaborative design processes. This study proposes a Human–AI Co-Creative Design Process (HAI-CDP) model and evaluates its impact on designers’ creativity through a comparative experimental design. The results indicate that the HAI-CDP substantially improves creative performance over the traditional design process. For novice designers, its primary value lies in facilitating idea generation, whereas for experienced designers, it contributes more to elevating the quality and refinement of creative outcomes. Although the Human–AI Co-Creative Design Process lowers the entry barrier to creative engagement, the findings also reaffirm that design experience remains a critical factor shaping creative output.
Wang et al. (2025) studied this question.