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AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles
Abstract
This study addresses the challenge of evaluating how effectively artificial intelligence (AI) models can interpret and visualize basic design principles and elements—a skill essential in creative disciplines such as art and design education. The core aim is to examine whether AI-generated visual outputs can reflect a deliberate understanding of design concepts, particularly within abstract symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions. To explore this, the study analyzes the performance of 18 widely used text-to-image AI models, based on five design principles—rhythm, movement, contrast, emphasis, and balance—and five design elements—dot, line, shape, color, and texture. Each model was prompted to generate compositions aligned with these criteria, and the outputs were evaluated based on three primary criteria: understanding the design elements, understanding the design principles, and understanding the balance. Scores ranged from 1 (least accurate) to 5 (most accurate), and averages were calculated for comparative analysis. The results revealed that while models like Microsoft Designer and DALL-E occasionally produced strong outputs, they lacked consistency across different balance types. In contrast, models such as Craiyon and Flux.ai consistently underperformed. Notably, high scores in asymmetrical balance often inflated overall averages, masking deficiencies in design comprehension. The study concludes that symmetrical balance serves as a more reliable indicator of AI proficiency and emphasizes the need for holistic evaluation frameworks. These findings offer valuable insights for integrating AI tools into design education and assessing their pedagogical potential.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Interior Architecture , Information Technologies in Architecture and Design
Journal Section
Research Article
Early Pub Date
September 19, 2025
Publication Date
September 20, 2025
Submission Date
January 27, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 16, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2
APA
Kahraman, M. U., Şekerci, Y., & Bal, H. (2025). AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research, 9(2), 462-483. https://doi.org/10.54864/planarch.1627965
AMA
1.Kahraman MU, Şekerci Y, Bal H. AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research. 2025;9(2):462-483. doi:10.54864/planarch.1627965
Chicago
Kahraman, Mehmet Uğur, Yaren Şekerci, and Hakan Bal. 2025. “AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles”. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research 9 (2): 462-83. https://doi.org/10.54864/planarch.1627965.
EndNote
Kahraman MU, Şekerci Y, Bal H (September 1, 2025) AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research 9 2 462–483.
IEEE
[1]M. U. Kahraman, Y. Şekerci, and H. Bal, “AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles”, PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 462–483, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.54864/planarch.1627965.
ISNAD
Kahraman, Mehmet Uğur - Şekerci, Yaren - Bal, Hakan. “AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles”. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research 9/2 (September 1, 2025): 462-483. https://doi.org/10.54864/planarch.1627965.
JAMA
1.Kahraman MU, Şekerci Y, Bal H. AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research. 2025;9:462–483.
MLA
Kahraman, Mehmet Uğur, et al. “AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles”. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research, vol. 9, no. 2, Sept. 2025, pp. 462-83, doi:10.54864/planarch.1627965.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Uğur Kahraman, Yaren Şekerci, Hakan Bal. AI Models in Interpreting Basic Design Elements and Principles. PLANARCH - Design and Planning Research. 2025 Sep. 1;9(2):462-83. doi:10.54864/planarch.1627965