University of North Texas 
UNT Design Students Explore AI’s Creative Edge in New Exhibition
Aug. 25, 2025 — Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a buzzword in the design
world — it’s a tool, a challenge, and a collaborator. Faculty and students at the
University of North Texas’ College of Visual Arts and Design will showcase how AI
is reshaping fashion and interior design in "Beyond Control: AI’s Influence on Design,"
on view at the Union Art Gallery from Sept. 2–11.The exhibition is led by Chanjuan Chen, associate professor of Fashion Design, Jeannine Vail, assistant professor of Interior Design, and Cynthia Gentzel, lecturer in Fashion Design, with work created in collaboration with 110 undergraduate
students from the Fashion Design and Interior Design programs. The projects stem from
a four-week immersive workshop in Fall 2024 that placed students at the intersection
of design education and emerging technology.
Through hands-on experimentation, students tested how AI could expand — and complicate
— their creative processes. The results reveal both possibilities and tension. On
one hand, AI acted as a generative partner, sparking unexpected design directions
and pushing students toward new ways of thinking. On the other hand, it forced students
to confront ethical dilemmas around authenticity, inclusivity, and the risk of creative
homogenization.
“AI doesn’t replace creativity — it challenges us to rethink it,” said Chen. “Our
students learned to adapt when the technology diverged from their intentions, and
in that process, they developed resilience and critical design skills.”
The works on view highlight this balance of innovation and critique, positioning AI
as a collaborator rather than a competitor in the studio. For designers and educators
alike, the Beyond Control exhibition raises urgent questions: How do we harness AI
without losing human ingenuity? And how can design education prepare students to navigate
an industry where digital intelligence and human vision are increasingly intertwined?
The exhibition offers a glimpse of answers, but more importantly, it keeps the conversation
alive, signaling a future where fashion and interiors are not only designed but also
reimagined with technology as a co-creator.
The Charn Uswachoke International Development Fund, the Charn Fund, and the CVAD Cornerstone Grant fund this event. For more information about the CVAD's programs in Fashion and Interior design, visit the Department of Design webpage.
The Charn Uswachoke International Development Fund, the Charn Fund, and the CVAD Cornerstone Grant fund this event. For more information about the CVAD's programs in Fashion and Interior design, visit the Department of Design webpage.
The following video showcases AI-generated clips created by Fashion and Interior Design
students from the UNT College of Visual Arts and Design. Led by faculty in the Department
of Design, the students used the Luma Dream Machine AI model to design a vacation
home and resort wear collections inspired by the coastal beauty of Positano, Italy.
The video is part of the exhibition "Beyond Control: AI's Influence on Design."
Participating Artists
Fashion Design
Ben Arevalo
Chloe Boespflug
Ellie Bushong
Chloe Doerr
Maddie Ellis
Sean Gates
Sean Gates
Marcela Gonzalez
Nash Harris
Marisol Lopez
Madison McBride
Alyssa McEwan
Michael Monk
Cricket Myers
Meredith Robertson
Raegan Starling
Sabrina Tsui
Interior Design
Brooke Chern
Trinity Conrad
Shelley Cook
Averi Crespin
Mackenzie Gresham
Malaysia Jarrow
Alice Nguyen
Liliana Ochoa
Delaney Reed
Heidi Rubio
Lucas Sabillon
Treena Sath
Phinehas Shahrukh
Melissa Shi
Rebekah Swenson
Jayne Tran
Samantha Westbrook
Jade Wilson