The world is changing fast, and technology is becoming smarter and more intelligent. As Artificial Intelligence dominates the conversation — with Quantum Computing, Synthetic Data, and Organoid Intelligence on the horizon — designers face an urgent question: Are we heading toward Utopian or Dystopian digital futures? This publication, featuring eleven in-depth contributions, addresses how these rapid digital developments fundamentally influence the work of the designer, the design process, and the applied design researcher. The authors are not looking for quick answers, but try to determine the future questions that emerge from the interaction between design and AI. They explore the challenges and opportunities AI presents to the design profession, discussing the value of human creativity when AI can generate unlimited amounts of creative content instantly. This publication documents the results of the NADR 2025 knowledge cycle. Each year, NADR explores a specific research theme, supporting an exchange of knowledge and experience to further develop the field of Applied Design Research. The contributions were presented at the NADR symposium on October 20, 2025, during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven.

Contents 

Introduction (Peter Joore, Anja Overdiek, Catelijne van Middelkoop, Peter Troxler)

From Chaos to Support – Design companies and their adoption of AI (Anne Pasman, Maran Lamberts, Debbie Waninge, Merlijn Smits)

‘Now you see it’: Interrogating AI through friction design (Tamara Witschge, Maaike van Cruchten, Frank Kloos)

Teaching with Machines: Learning Through Embodiment (Catelijne van Middelkoop, ChatGPT)

Generative AI and Co-Design: Navigating Knowledge, Agency, and the ‘We-Space’ (Wina Smeenk, Marieke van Dijk)

AI as a Co-Creative Partner in Art and Design Education (Floris de Jonge)\

Scaffolds of Imagination: Partnering with AI-image generation in Civic Prototyping (Tomasz Jaśkiewicz, Iskander Smit, Peter van Waart, Manon Mostert van der Sar, Evin Wijninga)

IkigAI: Co-reflection with Generative AI to enhance career direction clarity in design education (Claudia Mayer, Ned Kaar, Giulia Calabretta, Wina Smeenk)

Learning from Artists and their Computers (Aymeric Mansoux, Anja Overdiek, Martin Howse, Nan Wang and Sarah Groff Hennigh-Palermo)

The Misunderstanding of Creativity: why AI and human creativity are not equal (Angelique Ruiter)

AI as a regional product – Adversarial Design for Public Debate on LLMs and Deep Culture (Danielle Arets, Jelle van der Ster, Jessy de Cooker, Siri Beerends)

‘Bot-iful Accidents’: Can A.I. Spark Serendipity? (Bard Wartena)