Accelerating Creativity: Art Professor Empowers Students to Approach AI with Curiosity and Intention
A professor in the Department of Art, Kim not only embraces AI in her classroom, but also views it as a tool to expand what’s possible while preserving the distinctly human qualities of meaning-making and storytelling.
“The rise of AI has ushered in a profound transformation in the field of graphic design,” she says. “Rather than diminishing the creative role, AI elevates it, repositioning designers as interdisciplinary leaders who bring meaning, clarity and responsibility to a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.”
This view may challenge traditional thinking and approaches to the creative process, but it’s one deeply rooted in Kim’s extensive experience and industry insight.
It’s also a perspective — and a teaching philosophy — that’s preparing her students not just to excel, but to lead in an industry that’s constantly evolving. By introducing AI as a collaborative tool rather than a threat, Kim empowers her students to adapt quickly and reimagine how they find success in a field they’re deeply passionate about.
“AI can be a powerful catalyst for creative exploration,” says Kim. “It enables designers to move beyond conventional boundaries, accelerating ideation, disrupting entrenched design habits and rapidly visualizing complex or previously unimagined concepts.”
Long before AI became a buzzword, Kim was already working at the intersection of design, technology and human behavior — and she’s spent decades thinking about how people and machines can work together.
An expert in graphic design, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI), and immersive design, Kim held executive creative leadership roles in the human-computer interaction (HCI) divisions at Samsung and LG prior to joining USD as a faculty member.
In these roles, she led interdisciplinary teams focused on developing intuitive, user-centric designs and integrating HCI methodologies into emerging technologies. This path eventually led her to immersive design, a focus that allows her to explore both her passion for innovative design and the power of human interaction and experiences.
With over 25 years of industry experience, Kim is just as passionate and curious about design as she was when she began her career. “What continues to draw me in is the ability to design experiences that are not only aesthetically refined but deeply human, intuitive, inclusive and emotionally resonant,” she says.
She uses this passion and curiosity to guide her approach to teaching, which is rooted in both innovation and critical inquiry.
Kim incorporates several AI-driven tools, such as Figma, Adobe Firefly, Eleven Labs Midjourney, Uizard, Looka and ChatGPT, into her curriculum to keep her students at the forefront of current trends and emerging software. She shows students how these tools can be used to improve their approaches in ideation, iteration and creative execution.
From generating mood boards in seconds to allowing students to quickly experiment with countless layout variations, generative AI tools can take tasks that once demanded considerable time and manual effort and significantly accelerate them.
“These capabilities free designers from routine production tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-order creative challenges that require nuance, empathy and conceptual thinking,” says Kim. “This allows designers to allocate more time to conceptual development and strategic design thinking.”
This shift is ultimately redefining what it means to be a designer, turning makers into curators, collaborators and creative directors.
“In essence, AI is not replacing the designer — it is repositioning them,” said Kim. “The future belongs to designers who can navigate uncertainty, remain grounded in ethical and human-centered values and leverage intelligent technologies to create experiences that are efficient and meaningful.”
When it comes to seamlessly integrating AI into their workflows, Kim reminds her students that the technology should be utilized as an extension of the creative process, not as a replacement for creative instincts.
“Let it challenge you, inspire new directions and accelerate ideation, but never allow it to override your unique perspective,” she advises. “Your creative voice, values and intent give meaning and integrity to your work.”
She also reminds her students that even with new AI tools being launched every day, there will always be things that can’t — and shouldn’t — be automated. Critical thinking, ethical considerations, technological limitations and accountability are key talking points around the responsible use of AI in Kim’s classes.
Through case studies, discussion-based seminars and critical design projects, Kim and her students examine issues such as algorithmic bias, misinformation, data ethics and authorship, encouraging conversations around the broader social and cultural implications of AI-generated content.
“These discussions extend far beyond the classroom; they’re essential to preparing designers for a future where technological fluency must be paired with ethical accountability,” says Kim. “Students are challenged to interrogate the tools they use, exploring what they can and should do.”
Kim’s message to her students is clear: thriving in an increasingly AI-driven world is not about simply using the tools and keeping up; it’s about thinking deeper and leading with intention.
“Approach AI with both curiosity and critical intent,” Kim encourages. “Don’t just focus on learning how to use the tools — strive to understand the systems behind them. The more you grasp how AI operates, its capabilities, its limitations and its underlying biases, the more effectively you can shape it as a creative partner rather than relying on it as a shortcut,” she continues.
For Kim, it’s not just about keeping pace with innovation — it’s about cultivating designers who are equipped to question, shape and ultimately lead it.
“My overarching goal is to cultivate technologically fluent designers who are capable of leading responsibly in a rapidly evolving creative economy,” says Kim. “By fostering hands-on experimentation and critical reflection, I hope to prepare students not simply to adopt new tools but to shape and influence the next generation of design practice with clarity, conscience and vision."
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