One final-year student at the University of Northampton has combined creativity, research and emerging technology in an ambitious final project which explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the design industry.
Soon-to-be-graduate of Graphic Design, Connor King has been awarded a £500 bursary from the Cameron Day Charitable Trust which has funded the production of ‘AI and Us’, a 170-page publication examining how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping creative practice, and what the future may hold for designers.
Awarded in memory of Cameron Day, an extremely gifted graphic designer who passed away in 2021, the bursary is designed to support students who demonstrate dedication, commitment and a positive contribution to university life – which arrived at a crucial point in Connor’s final-year project.
“Creating the book was a very complicated process and I quickly realised how expensive it was going to be,” Connor explained. “The bursary came at exactly the right time and was real lifeboat.”
However, Connor said the recognition itself was just as meaningful as the financial support.
“Being put forward for the award by my lecturers was incredibly validating, particularly in light of Cam’s amazing legacy. It made me realise that the hard work I’d put into university had been noticed, and was making a real impact.”
Connor’s publication explores the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, from its growing role in creative agencies to concerns around ethics, bias, copyright and the future of jobs in the creative sector.
Rather than taking a purely positive or negative stance, Connor sought to present a balanced view.
“AI is not necessarily good or bad – it comes down to the person using it,” he explained. “You can’t shut yourself off from its uses because so many agencies and studios are already adopting it, but at the same time there are important questions about how it’s used and regulated.”
The project combines research, industry interviews and visual experimentation, using a mixture of traditional design techniques, photography, collage and AI-generated imagery. One of the book’s central themes is the relationship between human creativity and machine-generated content: “It’s a physical book about AI, which I liked because it brings together both worlds. I wanted to explore the tension between traditional human creativity and new technologies.”
Throughout his studies, Connor has also taken part in a range of activities beyond the classroom, including serving as a student ambassador, acting as a course representative and working on live industry briefs for local, national and global companies.
Reflecting on his three years studying at UON, he described the experience as transformative: “I’ve loved it. Looking back, the biggest thing has been the lecturers and the opportunities they’ve given us. The more effort you put in, the more opportunities which seem to open up.
“I’m so glad I made the decision to come to university. I’ve changed for the better during my time here, both as a designer and as a person, and I can’t wait to showcase everything I’ve achieved at the Degree Show!”
Connor’s work will be featured alongside other students from a variety of courses from the Faculty of Education, Arts, Science and Technology at this year’s Degree Show, running from Thursday 18 to Tuesday 23 June at the University’s Waterside Campus.