Artificial intelligence as a linguistic interface in interior design education: Reconceiving design tools as communication media

Abstract

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed the role of design tools, extending their function beyond conventional applications to become linguistic interfaces that mediate and structure cognitive and communicative processes in design. This study critically examines the reconfiguration of AI-driven design tools within interior design education, foregrounding their role as discursive agents in design communication. Through an in-depth analysis of an AI-based workshop conducted with interior design students, the research investigates how linguistic engagements with AI systems influences decision-making, conceptualization, and procedural methodologies within the design process. The findings reveal a shift from traditional design heuristics toward a linguistically embedded computational paradigm, elucidating how AI-generated textual and visual interactions inform cognitive schemata and foster epistemic innovation in design education. The study argues that AI-driven design tools not only enhance visualization capabilities but also act as cognitive co-agents that refine and articulate linguistic constructs within design discourse. By proposing an integrative framework for embedding language-oriented AI applications into interior design pedagogy, this research advances a reconceptualization of digital design engagement and advocates for a deeper integration of computational linguistics into design cognition and practice. © The Author(s) 2025