Embracing AI in Fashion Education
Date 20 December 2024
20.12.2024At the recent Jisc AI Winter HE Community Event, Jane Mills talked about how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the fashion industry, from design to retail. She shared how integrating AI tools into the fashion curriculum can help students brainstorm ideas, overcome creative blocks, and take their creative concepts further. She advised that by embedding ethical AI practices into their learning, we can make sure students know how to use AI responsibly, as a partner to inspire and refine their work, while respecting originality and academic integrity. This approach helps equip our graduates with the cutting-edge skills they need to bridge creativity, technology, and the ever-changing demands of a tech-driven industry.
I was invited to speak at the Jisc AI Winter HE Community Event on 13 December, where over 100 attendees gathered to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education. The event was hosted by the University of London and provided a superb venue for thought-provoking discussions and insights.
The day featured a wide-ranging lineup of speakers, including Dr. Manal Matough from Coventry University, discussing AI in healthcare training, Lisa Harris and Stephen Hickman talked about embedding generative AI in distance learning, and Ros Walker of University of St Andrews exploring AI as a reasonable adjustment for disability.
Dr. Melanie Stockton-Brownfrom University of Reading and Szilvia Ruszev, from Bournemouth University led an engaging session on AI and copyright in creative industries, and Kirstin McLenaghan and Wolf Wright from The University of Law showcased their Custom GPT tool, ALiCE.
In my talk on AI in the fashion industry, I had the opportunity to expand on the themes of my earlier blog, published in August, titled AI in Universities and Colleges: Examples in Education. I shared how AI tools are helping fashion students brainstorm, overcome creative barriers, and produce innovative designs.
My thanks to Micheal Webb, Director of AI at Jisc, who reflected on the event on LinkedIn, and for highlighting his enthusiastic endorsement for both my presentation and the imagery that I shared. It was interesting to see so many academics sharing their experiences and innovations, highlighting the huge potential of AI to transform the future of Higher Education.
Pertinent to this in my presentation, I was able to highlight the approach that we have taken at UON in that our fashion students are encouraged to see AI as a supportive tool while also understanding the importance of respecting ethical boundaries, such as academic integrity. I also talked about rolling out my pilot for the Fashion Digital Tools Logbook, which helps ensure AI is used transparently and effectively in academic work. The logbook guides students in documenting their use of AI tools and processes, encouraging responsible practices, enhancing their learning, and helping them avoid unintentional academic misconduct.
Student Case Studies
I also shared inspiring examples of how both past and current students have used AI creatively, including:
Baylie’s Textile Colour Exploration
Baylie, a final-year textile student, used AI to re-colourise an old black & white family photograph of her great-great grandfather’s Chinese restaurant, the first in Luton in 1944. AI helped her explore authentic 1940s tones, which inspired the colour palette for her printed and dyed textiles, celebrating her cultural heritage.
China’s Footwear & Accessory Concept Development
China, a final-year footwear and accessory student, uses AI to overcome challenges with dyslexia. AI generates visuals for her dream diary, allowing her to capture the textures and colours of her vivid, surreal dreams. This helps her transform personal experiences into visual representations that effectively communicate her ideas.
Final Thoughts
AI is becoming essential in both the fashion industry and fashion education, it’s no longer optional and its key to preparing students for the future. However, there are still challenges, like questions about originality, authorship, and biases in AI systems. To keep AI a positive force for creativity, we need ethical frameworks that encourage responsible use and can tackle these issues head-on.
AI isn’t just a tool, it’s transforming how we design, produce, and experience fashion. As shown in the students’ case studies, combining personal creativity with AI can lead to groundbreaking work, helping them overcome creative blocks and turn ideas into innovative designs. By embracing AI, we are not just preparing our students to adapt but empowering them to lead. Our focus needs to be on helping them navigate AI’s opportunities and challenges with confidence and integrity, harnessing its potential to enhance their creativity while staying true to their unique voice.
Jane Mills is Deputy Head of Fashion at UON.