When Discourse Stalls: Moving Past Five Semantic Stopsigns about Generative AI in Design Research

Willem van der Maden; Vera van der Burg; Brett A. Halperin; Petra Jääskeläinen; Joseph Lindley; Derek Lomas; Timothy Merritt

doi:10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565

When Discourse Stalls: Moving Past Five Semantic Stopsigns about Generative AI in Design Research

Willem van der Maden, Vera van der Burg, Brett A. Halperin, Petra Jääskeläinen, Joseph Lindley, Derek Lomas, Timothy Merritt

Human-Computer Interaction and Design

Research output: Working paper › Preprint

Abstract

This essay examines how Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming design practices and how discourse often falls into over-simplified narratives that impede meaningful research and practical progress. We identify and deconstruct five prevalent "semantic stopsigns" -- reductive framings about GenAI in design that halt deeper inquiry and limit productive engagement. Reflecting upon two expert workshops at ACM conferences and semi-structured interviews with design practitioners, we analyze how these stopsigns manifest in research and practice. Our analysis develops mid-level knowledge that bridges theoretical discourse and practical implementation, helping designers and researchers interrogate common assumptions about GenAI in their own contexts. By recasting these stopsigns into more nuanced frameworks, we provide the design research community with practical approaches for thinking about and working with these emerging technologies.

Original language	English
Number of pages	16
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565
Publication status	Published - 11 Mar 2025

Access to Document

10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565Licence: CC BY

2503.08565v1Submitted manuscript, 330 KBLicence: CC BY

https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.08565Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@misc{ec56d4335755413193718f78606df0d4,

title = "When Discourse Stalls: Moving Past Five Semantic Stopsigns about Generative AI in Design Research",

abstract = "This essay examines how Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming design practices and how discourse often falls into over-simplified narratives that impede meaningful research and practical progress. We identify and deconstruct five prevalent {"}semantic stopsigns{"} -- reductive framings about GenAI in design that halt deeper inquiry and limit productive engagement. Reflecting upon two expert workshops at ACM conferences and semi-structured interviews with design practitioners, we analyze how these stopsigns manifest in research and practice. Our analysis develops mid-level knowledge that bridges theoretical discourse and practical implementation, helping designers and researchers interrogate common assumptions about GenAI in their own contexts. By recasting these stopsigns into more nuanced frameworks, we provide the design research community with practical approaches for thinking about and working with these emerging technologies.",

keywords = "cs.CY, cs.AI",

author = "\{van der Maden\}, Willem and \{van der Burg\}, Vera and Halperin, \{Brett A.\} and Petra J{\"a}{\"a}skel{\"a}inen and Joseph Lindley and Derek Lomas and Timothy Merritt",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "11",

doi = "10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565",

language = "English",

type = "WorkingPaper",

}

TY - UNPB

T1 - When Discourse Stalls

T2 - Moving Past Five Semantic Stopsigns about Generative AI in Design Research

AU - van der Maden, Willem

AU - van der Burg, Vera

AU - Halperin, Brett A.

AU - Jääskeläinen, Petra

AU - Lindley, Joseph

AU - Lomas, Derek

AU - Merritt, Timothy

PY - 2025/3/11

Y1 - 2025/3/11

N2 - This essay examines how Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming design practices and how discourse often falls into over-simplified narratives that impede meaningful research and practical progress. We identify and deconstruct five prevalent "semantic stopsigns" -- reductive framings about GenAI in design that halt deeper inquiry and limit productive engagement. Reflecting upon two expert workshops at ACM conferences and semi-structured interviews with design practitioners, we analyze how these stopsigns manifest in research and practice. Our analysis develops mid-level knowledge that bridges theoretical discourse and practical implementation, helping designers and researchers interrogate common assumptions about GenAI in their own contexts. By recasting these stopsigns into more nuanced frameworks, we provide the design research community with practical approaches for thinking about and working with these emerging technologies.

AB - This essay examines how Generative AI (GenAI) is rapidly transforming design practices and how discourse often falls into over-simplified narratives that impede meaningful research and practical progress. We identify and deconstruct five prevalent "semantic stopsigns" -- reductive framings about GenAI in design that halt deeper inquiry and limit productive engagement. Reflecting upon two expert workshops at ACM conferences and semi-structured interviews with design practitioners, we analyze how these stopsigns manifest in research and practice. Our analysis develops mid-level knowledge that bridges theoretical discourse and practical implementation, helping designers and researchers interrogate common assumptions about GenAI in their own contexts. By recasting these stopsigns into more nuanced frameworks, we provide the design research community with practical approaches for thinking about and working with these emerging technologies.

KW - cs.CY

KW - cs.AI

U2 - 10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565

DO - 10.48550/arXiv.2503.08565

M3 - Preprint

BT - When Discourse Stalls

ER -

When Discourse Stalls: Moving Past Five Semantic Stopsigns about Generative AI in Design Research

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this