Metacognitive, Cognitive, and Creative Dynamics in the Artificial Intelligence-Aided Design Process

Abstract

This study examines the effects of artificial intelligence-aided design processes (AIADP) on cognitive load, creativity, and metacognitive awareness. Within the scope of the study, a one-day face-to-face workshop was organised with twenty-eight architects, including architecture students studying at undergraduate and graduate levels, and the data based on the participants' experiences were analysed using qualitative research methods. The results of the sentiment-based content analysis show that integrating AI tools into the design process reduces cognitive load, supports creative thinking processes, facilitates rapid prototyping and feedback mechanisms, and increases metacognitive awareness. The findings reveal that AI-aided design tools can potentially improve designers' cognitive and creative capacities. The study addresses the effects of AIADP in educational and professional contexts from a local perspective, providing a new perspective on the literature on the integration of AI into design processes. © 2025, Education and research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe. All rights reserved.