Generative AI’s Effect on the Exploratory Design Process : A qualitative study into how Gen-AI affects the Diverging partsof a Double Diamond UX design process

As Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) becomes more widespread, it challengestraditional collaboration between User Experience Designers (UX designers) and theirtools. This technology enables new approaches to working for UX designers. However,while Gen-AI tools are becoming more widely used in UX design, this integrationintroduces uncertainties for UX designers regarding the usage of Gen-AI tools. Existingstudies focus on the potential of Gen-AI in UX design; however, further studies areneeded to understand the practical applications of Gen-AI in UX design. This studycombines insights from prior literature with semi-structured qualitative interviews togather data on the perspectives of practising UX designers on the divergent phases ofthe design process. This study employs an inductive thematic analysis to help developguidelines for UX designers on the use of Gen-AI and minimising its negativeconsequences. The study concludes, in addition to guidelines for using Gen-AI in UXdesign, that the use of Gen-AI does not alter the structure of divergent phases or theintent of tasks and activities; it affects how tasks and activities are executed.