Talented Carlisle students take on AI design challenge

Students on the foundation diploma in art and design course were asked to explore the themes around AI and demonstrate that through fashion, textiles or interior design.

Some of the talented bunch made outfits which were modelled by college students, whilst others created textiles or interior designs.

Kitty Robinson's interior design (Image: Carlisle College)Students had around three weeks to complete the project which course tutor, Wendy Oxley, said was an ‘eye-opener’ for the students.

“We're expecting our students to collaborate with industry, we should expect them to collaborate with AI – it’s essential for their future,” said Ms Oxley.

“AI can do a lot of things but actually making a garment on a dummy stand and altering the way that something falls differently on the stand - AI can't do that.

“So, AI can be a starting point, but there's got to be balance and there has still got to be that hands-on craftsmanship.”

Students debated whether AI was a good or bad invention during the process, and they had mixed views on the future of AI in the creative industries.

“AI all depends on the hands that it’s in,” said student, Evie Radcliffe, who used an AI generated print in her work.

Textile design (Image: Carlisle College)“There are definitely positives we can take from it, but we’ve got to be careful.

"AI will be a very important part of the art industry, but we should be looking to use it rather than it replacing us entirely in the creative industry.”

The photo shoot itself took place last week and Ms Oxley said she was ‘incredibly proud’ of her students.

More of the fashion designs (Image: Carlisle College)“The height of professionalism was absolutely outstanding,” she said.

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“It was a moment where I could stand back as a tutor and they were all had their individual roles to be getting on with and they all took leadership on the role – it actually left me without a job.

“They all just absolutely gelled together and it was outstanding, absolutely outstanding.”