Design Sparks emerges as a cutting-edge AI-driven web application, conceived and nurtured by The National Centre for Creativity enabled by AI (CebAI). It stands at the intersection of well-established creative problem-solving techniques and the transformative power of AI, culminating in a remarkable tool for igniting design ideas.
Within this dynamic web application, users are granted the privilege to input their design conundrums or ideas through various means, be it typing, pasting links, or uploading PDF documents. At the core of Design Sparks lies its AI engine, which diligently crafts “sparks” or design ideas in response to user inputs. These sparks are akin to the seeds of inspiration, ready to be nurtured into full-fledged design concepts.
Users wield the authority to save these sparks, curate them for future perusal, and seamlessly navigate through their repository of ingenious ideas. Design Sparks, however, doesn’t stop at merely generating sparks—it empowers users to tailor their idea generation process with precision. They can zoom in on specific themes by clicking on extracted topics, request the AI to conjure more ideas rooted in a particular spark, or fine-tune topic settings to explore rare, common, or random creative themes.
This web application transcends the boundaries of conventional chatbots by infusing the design process with interactivity. It introduces prompts that stimulate creativity, a treasure trove of curated knowledge, and profound insights that catalyze innovation.
The genesis of Design Sparks was driven by a noble mission—to bolster workforce creativity, elevate productivity, fortify competitiveness, and nurture critical thinking. This ambitious endeavor was made possible through funding from Research England, with enthusiastic contributions from City, University of London, and a coalition of over 20 industrial partners, channeling a cumulative investment of £7.6 million.
With a vision that extends beyond grants, Design Sparks aspires to become a self-sustaining force through the provision of licensing and consultancy services once the grant period concludes in 2024. In essence, Design Sparks isn’t confined to any specific niche; it stands as a priceless tool accessible to service, product, UX/UI designers, and stakeholders alike. It serves as a fertile ground where ideas flourish, fresh perspectives bloom, and boundless possibilities come to life.