By Nikolaj Sloth Kramer & René Claus Larsen
Contributors: Anne Louise Bang, Aron Grigoleit, Pia Hansen, Malene Pilgaard Harsaae, Tine Hjort, Katrin Meinert Ibsen, Nikolaj Sloth Kramer, René Claus Larsen, Hanne Thaarup Mølbak, Martin Storkholm Nielsen, Klaus Greve True
FIGURE 1. Prompts, workshop with students 28th January 2025
Introduction
The AI Rocket is a tool, that is used to frame and drive value creation using generative AI (Kramer & Larsen, unpublished). While invented for design and business students at VIA University College in Denmark, we chose to further investigate the tool’s potential by introducing it to the participants of the CraftIT-4SD pilot in Central Denmark.
In this case, we have encouraged micro companies and students in two different workshop set-ups to experiment with the AI Rocket exploring the potentials of generative AI in the design and development process.
The Why
A professional approach to AI means understanding how it can be used as a creative sparring partner – not as a replacement for the designer, but as a tool that opens new possibilities in the hands of the designer. When used strategically, AI can strengthen collaboration and co-creation between designers, customers and manufacturers and enable more dynamic, interactive design processes.
Co-creation with AI makes it possible to adapt designs in real time and involve customers in the creation process. Striving for a green transition of the fashion industry, design for longevity can be promoted as a key restraint to lower the climate impact. Recent research mentions mass customization as a way to rethink apparel strategies through understanding customers’ reality and values (Harsaae et al., 2025). AI may be a key factor for customization and tailored solutions, but it is crucial to understand the technology on a professional level to be able to master the development rather than to simply follow suggestions from a chatbot.
Mastering AI as a tool for co-creation means combining the authenticity of craftsmanship with the precision of technology – a balance that eventually might define the fashion of the future.
The How
The AI Rocket workshops were planned to ensure both professional immersion and practical application of AI in the design process. Furthermore, the AI Rocket emphasized the importance of validation in the design process by approaching the AI tools as a partner in a co-creation process and relating the process to a problem definition. The AI Rocket consists of seven phases, which can be repeated iteratively considering context, ambition, feedback etc. The phases are: problem definition, input (prompting), output, validation, dissection, co-creation and solution.
Acknowledging that not all participants are familiar with generative AI and how to qualify the use of it, we chose to open the workshops with a lecture elaborating on generative AI tools. We introduced the AI Rocket and how it relates to a variety of AI tools to demonstrate how the method can qualify the use of generative AI in design work. Following the lecture, the workshop participants were invited to explore generative AI tools through different exercises. The students worked in groups, whereas the micro companies experimented individually to ensure relevance for their line of work.
The What
The micro companies experimented with different AI techniques in a 2 hour workshop. To exemplify, they experimented with prompts to create a persona using different AI platforms. In the process of creating these personas, the generative AI platforms utilized their pre-trained power, built on real data, to generate synthetic data that underpinned the personas. The workshop with the micro companies was mostly an introduction to AI and the inherent potential of the technology as many companies are still unfamiliar with it. This workshop gave them insight into AI; how it works, and some hands-on experience with selected tools. Feedback from the participating companies emphasized that the workshop has provided them with insight and ways to approach their company with new perspectives and opportunities.
The students were invited to a three-day workshop. On the first day they experimented with the AI tools and how they adapt to the design process. They used the second day to develop a storyboard, and on the third day the students produced and edited a film, using AI to optimize and refine the content. The two student workshops culminated in presentations and reflections on the importance of AI in design work. The students are more familiar with AI, but yet they were challenged in using it professionally and reflexively. We have experienced that they to some extent use it ‘blindly’ and somehow naïve, by simply feeding a chatbot and using the suggested solution without critically reflecting on it or using to improve their design work – hence the need to develop the AI Rocket, to secure that validation and reflection takes place.
Reflection
By framing the introduction to AI in general by the AI Rocket, which is specifically developed for value creation and critical reflection, we experienced that it enabled us to create a learning space for taking in the new technology. Thereby it both exemplified and provided a ‘safe space’ for critical reflection that could qualify the design work.
Our experiences and insights from workshops with companies as well as students suggest that framing the introduction to generative AI by the AI Rocket support value creation and critical reflection of the suggestions and results.
Going forward, we see that a more guided reflection process can help students as well as companies integrate AI as a professional tool in the design process.
REFERENCES
Harsaae, M., Pedersen, L. & Terkildsen, M. (2025). Trace: MCC FASHION – Mass Customization for Circularity. VIA University College.
Kramer, N. & Larsen, R. (Unpublished). AI Rocket-modellen: En iterativ ramme for evaluering og forbedring af AI-genererede outputs i kreative brancher (In Danish). Unpublished teaching tool, VIA University College Denmark.