Design Process with Generative AI and Thinking Methods: Divergence of Ideas Using the Fishbone Diagram Method

Abstract

In 2022, high-performance generative AI — such as Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT — were reported upon and released amid increasing momentum for the utilization of such generative AI. In the field of architecture, generative AI is expected to not only be used for task automation, but as a means of diverging ideas as well, especially in the planning stage of architectural design. However, effective application methods have not yet been reported.Therefore, this study proposes a concept-making method that combines generative AI and ways to diverge ideas in architectural design and proposes a tuning method for ChatGPT to enable more effective dialogue. In the proposed method, ChatGPT is involved as a member in group work settings that aims to create concepts and initial designs using the fishbone diagram, one of the ways to list and categorize factors and ideas to achieve goals. In addition, ChatGPT is tuned to obtain more effective factors and ideas, particularly those related to spatial composition and shapes by inputting text regarding architectural design and specific architects.The proposed method was tested via case studies that created concepts and initial designs for an actual architectural competition. The results show that external ideas obtained from generative AI inspire the fishbone diagram process. The concepts and designs created seem imaginative and appropriate for competition.