At the 2025 SECAC Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio State Design faculty members Yvette Shen and Kevin Ward co-chaired a forward-looking panel exploring the evolving intersections of generative AI (GenAI), design education, and professional practice. The session brought together independent design practitioners and faculty from Miami University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and the University of Maryland to discuss AI’s expanding role in design processes, curriculum development, brand identity, visual storytelling, emotional expression, and experience design.

The panel, titled AI’s Dual Role in Industry Innovation and Design Education, emphasized the importance of critical engagement with emerging technologies in both academic and professional contexts. Shen and Ward curated a diverse set of perspectives that underscored how GenAI is reshaping creative workflows and pedagogical strategies.

Second-year MFA student Borami Kang contributed to the session with a presentation of her research, The Future of Brand Design with AI. Her work highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into branding practices, offering insights into how designers can navigate the shifting landscape of creative identity and automation.

The panel was part of SECAC’s broader effort to foster interdisciplinary dialogue around contemporary issues in art and design. More information about the conference and the full program can be found on the 2025 SECAC Conference website.