From Dead-ends to Dialogue
Third Workshop on Design Research & GenAI
Willem van der Maden (IT University of Copenhagen)
Vera van der Burg (TU Delft - Creative Processes)
Brett A. Halperin (University of Washington)
Petra Jääskeläinen (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Peter Kun (IT University of Copenhagen)
J.D. Lomas (TU Delft - Human Technology Relations)
Timothy Merritt (Aalborg University)
Joseph Lindley (Lancaster University)
Pavel Okopnyi (University of Bergen)
Frode Guribye (University of Bergen)
Maria Luce Lupetti (Politecnico di Torino)
Jichen Zhu (IT University of Copenhagen)
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Abstract
In this third installment of our GenAI workshop series at DIS, we focus on ‘stopsigns’—the blockages that impede progress in design research with GenAI. These stopsigns manifest as both semantic barriers (political, social, or mental frameworks) and pragmatic hurdles (technical limitations or implementation challenges) that persist despite the rapid advancements since the GenAI boom. Such stopsigns present a productive tension—they often contain partial truths worthy of consideration while simultaneously being shortsighted in ways that prevent progression. From blanket rejection to uncritical acceptance, these barriers affect how meaningfully we engage with GenAI’s potential. Our workshop welcomes both returning and first-time participants to share their experiences with these persistent challenges and work together to develop practical solutions. Through analysis of real cases and hands-on activities, we’ll build strategies for moving beyond these obstacles while acknowledging their legitimate concerns. Our goal is to foster more thoughtful integration of GenAI in design research and practice.
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