AI Design, Design AI, Human-Centred AI and the Theatre of the Absurd the language, life and times of a UX designer

TL;DR

This theoretical paper explores the cultural and philosophical implications of Design AI and UX design, comparing UX designer discourse to the Theatre of the Absurd to reveal existential themes in human-AI interaction.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective by linking UX design discourse with Theatre of the Absurd, highlighting existential themes in AI and human experience within design practices.

Findings

UX discourse exhibits Theatre of the Absurd characteristics

Design AI reflects human existential concerns

UX designer narratives reveal cultural AI spectacle

Abstract

This article connects the concepts and phenomena of Design AI, AI in creative industries and AIs capacity for creativity. It links Design AI to UX design and UX designer discourse. Its vagueness and the prominence of UX designers as speakers and writers in the spectacle of cultural AI discourse. The article then, draws comparisons between the Theatre of the Absurd and the UX designer performances of design AI. It additionally sheds light on ToA and the human condition in terms of existentialism, present within the practice of engaging in design that intends to link human experience to technological system logic. This is a theoretical article that utilises examples from UX events published on Youtube, as well as UX designer blogs, in order to illustrate the mechanics of the ToA present within contemporary AI and UX designer discourse.