Gao, Xuan and Bakırlıoğlu, Yekta (2026) Navigating AI in design leadership : Insights on emerging competencies and cultural challenges in China. In: DRS2026: Research Papers :. Proceedings of DRS . Design Research Society, GBR.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This paper explores current challenges of and competencies in design education through an industry lens, highlighting both the opportunities and obstacles arising from the growing integration of AI. Drawing on the interviews with design leaders, scholars and students, the findings reveal diverse perspectives and challenges related to AI, including four main aspects: (1) AI can serve as an assistive tool in design practice; (2) AI creates new requirements and needs for designer roles and affects job displacement; (3) AI can improve work efficiency and reshape organisational structures; and (4) AI raises ethical issues such as plagiarism. Moreover, two AI-related cultural challenges unique to the Chinese context are also identified: (1) AI-driven unemployment can increase the ‘curse of 35’ career bottleneck; and (2) the rise of AI may impact unspoken social norms, or ‘guanxi’, as a source of competitive advantage.