The potential of text-to-image and image-to-image technology to enhance idea generation in industrial design learning

Idea generation plays a crucial role in industrial design education as it is the foundation of creativity and innovation in this field. In order to produce exceptional designs, students need to be equipped with effective idea generation skills. Despite the value of idea generation in industrial design education, students frequently struggle to translate their conceptual ideas into effective visual representations. Conventional methods that rely purely on visual sketch descriptions may hinder the creative process and restrict the range of design possibilities. For instance, excessive dependence on established design trends may hinder originality and lead to duplicated solutions. In order to enhance idea generation in industrial design education, it is important to explore new methods and techniques that can stimulate creativity. The rise of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as text-guided image-to-image technology, emerges as a game-changing solution by converting image prompts into compelling visual representations. Therefore, this article aims to explore the potential of text-guided image-to-image generation in industrial design education. Text-to-Image Conversion technology has emerged as a game-changer in design education by providing a seamless transition from text-based ideas to visually compelling representations. The development of text-to-image websites and applications such Midjourney, Imagine, and Clipdrop is a result of the popularity of text-to-image conversion technology. These platforms allow designers the choice to use a variety of subscription plans, including both free and paid options, to gain access to this powerful technology. However, to further enhance the idea generation process, the integration of a "text-guided image-to-image generator" holds huge potential. This method serves as visual cues or starting points that trigger creative thinking and guide students in exploring design concepts from various angles. By combining text-guided image-to-image with good prompting, students can benefit from a two-fold approach. Firstly, they can input textual descriptions of their design ideas into the web-based application, generating initial visual thumbnails or rough drafts. These generated images can serve as a basis for further exploration. Secondly, the integration of text-guided image-to-image with a good prompt allows students to have more control over the composition and realization of their creative goals.