# AIdeation: Designing a Human-AI Collaborative Ideation System for Concept Designers

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.14747 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.14747/

## Key facts

- Cited by 14 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 20 Feb 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 14 of 14)

- [POET: Supporting Prompting Creativity and Personalization with Automated Expansion of Text-to-Image Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13392/) (2025)
- [GenTune: Toward Traceable Prompts to Improve Controllability of Image Refinement in Environment Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.15227/) (2025)
- [Vibe Coding in Product Teams: Reconfiguring AI-Assisted Workflows, Prototyping, and Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.10652/) (2025)
- [StoryEnsemble: Enabling Dynamic Exploration & Iteration in the Design Process with AI and Forward-Backward Propagation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.03182/) (2025)
- [The AI Memory Gap: Users Misremember What They Created With AI or Without](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.11851/) (2025)
- [Exploration vs. Fixation: Scaffolding Divergent and Convergent Thinking for Human-AI Co-Creation with Generative Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.18388/) (2025)
- [DashChat: Interactive Authoring of Performance Dashboard Design Prototypes through Conversation with LLM-Powered Agent](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.12865/) (2025)
- [StableSketcher: Enhancing Diffusion Model for Pixel-based Sketch Generation via Visual Question Answering Feedback](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.20093/) (2025)
- [AnimAgents: Coordinating Multi-Stage Animation Pre-Production with Human-Multi-Agent Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.17906/) (2025)
- ["She was useful, but a bit too optimistic": Augmenting Design with Interactive Virtual Personas](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.19463/) (2025)
- [Generative AI Assisted Workflows in Architectural Conceptual Design: Performance, Creative Self-Efficacy, and Cognitive Load](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.10696/) (2026)
- [Reality Copilot: Voice-First Human-AI Collaboration in Mixed Reality Using Large Multimodal Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.11025/) (2026)
- [MOONWALK: Mediating Operations with Intent-Evidence-Action Alignment Across Junior-Supervisor Review Workflows in Animation/VFX Pre-Production](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.10385/) (2026)
- [Small-world Networks of Agents Brainstorm AI Risks to Support Ideation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.24859/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Concept designers in the entertainment industry create highly detailed, often imaginary environments for movies, games, and TV shows. Their early ideation phase requires intensive research, brainstorming, visual exploration, and combination of various design elements to form cohesive designs. However, existing AI tools focus on image generation from user specifications, lacking support for the unique needs and complexity of concept designers' workflows. Through a formative study with 12 professional designers, we captured their workflows and identified key requirements for AI-assisted ideation tools. Leveraging these insights, we developed AIdeation to support early ideation by brainstorming design concepts with flexible searching and recombination of reference images. A user study with 16 professional designers showed that AIdeation significantly enhanced creativity, ideation efficiency, and satisfaction (all p<.01) compared to current tools and workflows. A field study with 4 studios for 1 week provided insights into AIdeation's benefits and limitations in real-world projects. After the completion of the field study, two studios, covering films, television, and games, have continued to use AIdeation in their commercial projects to date, further validating AIdeation's improvement in ideation quality and efficiency.