Date
6-17-2026
Department
School of Communication and the Arts
Degree
Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)
Chair
Joseph Wright
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, AI, Graphic Design, AI Ethics, AI in Graphic Design, Ethical AI, Generative AI, AI-Assisted Design, Design Ethics, Ethics, Creative Integrity, Artistic Integrity, Transparency, Authenticity, AI Transparency
Disciplines
Art and Design | Communication
Recommended Citation
Lyons, Victoria, "Ethically Implementing AI to Maximize the Designer's Workflow" (2026). Masters Theses. 1495.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1495
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology that has impacted nearly every industry. Graphic design is certainly no exception. AI has provided designers with a multitude of exciting opportunities and new methods to improve their work. At the same time, AI has also created some complex ethical challenges for designers to navigate. AI has the potential to greatly increase workflow efficiency, bring in automation to repetitive tasks, and provide new creative potential, but it also introduces concerns about creative and artistic integrity, intellectual property laws, and transparency with the consumer.
The focus of this thesis research will explore how designers can implement AI into their workflow to maximize productivity, efficiency, and creativity, while doing so ethically. This thesis will dive into recent literature, real-world case studies, and visual analyses in order to investigate how AI adoption has impacted the professional design world. The findings of this research will highlight best practices for utilizing AI as a part of the artist’s toolkit, rather than an outright replacement for designers and human creativity. The research presented throughout this thesis identifies knowledge gaps, stakeholder concerns, and offers practical solutions for designers, educators, and organizations that can guide them towards responsible integration of AI in the workforce. The visual deliverables to help designers understand how to effectively use AI ethically will consist of four educational videos that will be displayed on a one-page microsite for ease of use.
