PhD Studentship: Creativity and Friction: Designing for Reflective Creative Practices in Human-AI Interactions

A common narrative around AI and creativity is the idea that people can create art within seconds, reinforcing a framing of AI for production and shifting the focus of artistic practice toward output and profit. Driving this narrative is the pursuit of seamlessness and immediacy, which has long shaped how technology companies design their tools; however, creative practice benefits from friction, indirection, and ambiguity.

This PhD project seeks to explore how friction can be deliberately introduced into AI creativity support tools in ways that support the creative process. The project builds upon a growing body of critical thinking around alternative approaches to AI, including feminist AI, small data, and slow technology, as frameworks for moving beyond fast-paced ideologies toward more reflective practices.

The project will investigate:

• What are the dynamics of artistic practices that support reflection, prioritising intention over production?
• What role do concepts like friction, indirection, and ambiguity play in supporting reflective creative practice, and how can these be operationalised in interactive systems?
• How might a slower, more considered pace of working with AI for creative purposes be translated into design principles for creativity support tools?

Who Should Apply

Candidates should have a background in AI. An interest in critical approaches to technology and creative practices is essential. Experience with creative AI tools or systems is desirable but not required.