Original Article ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts

ISSN (Online): 2582-7472 February 2024 5(2), 99-107

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI): PRACTICES AND PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Dr. Mona Mehta 1 , Himani Shah 2 , Rakhi Dasgupta 3

1 Assistant Professor, Department of FCRM, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of

Baroda, Vadodara, India

2 Assistant Professor (CES), Department of FCRM, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of

Baroda, Vadodara, India

3 Assistant Professor, Department of FCRM, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of

Baroda, Vadodara, India

ABSTRACT
The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has swept the globe. Tools of artificial
intelligence are now readily available to everyone due to the advancement of new and
more refined AI every day, and they carry the potential to fundamentally alter the way
one lives, works, and interacts with their surroundings. The interior design strategy
based on artificial intelligence technology is being used to optimize the entire interior
Corresponding Author design work to increase technological innovation in space. Designers can input their
Dr. Mona Mehta, mona.mehta- preferences and design ideas into artificial intelligence systems for interior design and
fcrm@msubaroda.ac.in receive suggestions for furniture, colour palettes, and other design elements. These AI
DOI applications are helpful to optimize the work management of an interior designer as well
10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i2.2024.142 as appease the clients. The main aim of the research study is to find out the practices and
4 problems experienced by Interior designers regarding the applications of artificial
Funding: This research received no intelligence in professionally managing and completing interior design projects. Data was
specific grant from any funding agency in collected from 80 respondents using a questionnaire through the purposive sampling
the public, commercial, or not-for-profit method. The results of this investigation were valuable for Interior Design professionals,
sectors. to get refined knowledge about the development of Artificial Intelligence tools used in
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). professional management of Interior Design. Through this study various informative
This work is licensed under a Creative programmes can be conducted about the latest trends in Artificial Intelligence
Commons Attribution 4.0 technology, its use and applicability.
International License.
With the license CC-BY, authors retain Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Interior Design, Tools, Practices and Problems
the copyright, allowing anyone to
download, reuse, re-print, modify,
distribute, and/or copy their
contribution. The work must be
properly attributed to its author.

1. INTRODUCTION
The world has seen a surge in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The
widespread availability of artificial intelligence tools has the potential to drastically
change the way individuals live, work, and interact with their environment. This is
made possible by the daily creation of new and more sophisticated AI technologies.
Artificial intelligence is the capacity of a computer or computer-controlled machine
How to cite this article (APA): Mehta, M., Shah, H., and Dasgupta, R. (2024). Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practices and Problems 99
Experienced by Interior Designers. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5(2), 99-107. doi:
10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i2.2024.1424
 Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practices and Problems Experienced by Interior Designers

to perform tasks that are often associated with human intellectual processes, such
as reasoning. While AIs are still unable to match human flexibility, in all domains or
activities, requiring a great deal of common knowledge, certain AIs are just as good
as humans in many areas [1]. Implications of AI technologies can be seen across
every industry in today’s time. In design related industries, “human creativity” as
well as “the human touch” are the key aspects of new design creation as per human
needs. However, AI tools support the professionals in the design industry in
optimizing their work output. In the field of Interior Design, a space is designed as
per human needs. Thus, human factors are of key importance in planning spaces and
providing necessary functionality while keeping in mind the aesthetics. An interior
designer's responsibilities include taking on a design project from start to finish,
figuring out the client's objectives and project requirements, interpreting and
translating client needs into rough plans, negotiating project costs and schedules,
researching and selecting suppliers of products and materials, placing material
orders, supervising the installation of design elements, collaborating closely with
agencies, engineers, architects, and contractors, and researching and adhering to
industry changes, evolutions, and best practices. [2]. Interior designers must
balance two very different tasks: being creative, which requires a private workspace
and dedicated time for work, and being a salesperson, which requires
understanding the client's needs and being able to put together, present, and close
a proposal into a profitable business opportunity. Therefore, an interior designer
needs good listening skills, communication skills, technical knowledge, and
management skills [3]. They have been using computer aided interior design for a
very long time, in order to accomplish these tasks, but now the trend has shifted to
using computer generated interior design work. Interior AI, REimagine Home, AI
Room Planner, 5D Planner, Spacely AI, Dreamhouse AI, CoolAIid, Møbel,
DreamStaging.AI, Oda Mood board, My Room Designer, DecorAI, RoomGPT, Interior
Computer, AITWO.CO, Jife, Foyr Neo, Houzz Pro, Sketch Up, RoomSketcher,
Midjourney and Decorilla are some AI applications available to support the work of
an Interior Designer [4]. The AI tools provide work support to Interior Designers
with features and services like of 2D and 3D space planning, generate design
suggestions and virtual walk-throughs for clients, furniture, furnishings,
accessories, and material selection, creating lighting designs, select colour schemes,
provide personalization of ideas and concepts, rendering and generating images of
designs, provide facilities to develop environment friendly and sustainable designs
and estimate coats based on designs and materials [5]. The benefits of using AI tools
are that it saves time, allows experimentation, boosts creative thought process,
improves efficiency, helps minimize the costs, allows design personalization, helps
manage time schedules and establish connections with agencies and suppliers [6].
AI tools are important for Interior Designers as it streamlines the design process, it
improves client engagement and satisfaction and, due to emerging evolution in the
field of artificial intelligence, it is necessary for interior designers to learn how to
use it [7]. Though AI tools have numerous advantages, they lack the “human touch”
and so sometimes there is lack of creativity, loss of control over design process and
lack of emotional factor in the design [8]. Therefore, it is imperative to learn about
the practices of interior designers regarding AI tools and problems experienced by
them in using it for their work.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1) To identify the extent of use of Artificial Intelligence tools by professional
Interior Designers.

ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts 100

 Dr. Mona Mehta, Himani Shah, and Rakhi Dasgupta

2) To find the extent of problems experienced by Interior Designers in

adopting Artificial Intelligence.

3. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The review of literature revealed studies on applications of AI technology in
interior design [9], graphics, design style applications and modelling for interior
design being transformed by computational and AI technology [10,11], evolutions
and improvements in AI technology for Interior Design [12-14], impact of AI
technology on field of interior design and interior design education [15, 16] and use
of generative AI for interior design [17, 18]. It can be established that there was a
dearth of studies related to practices of Interior Designers with regards to use of AI
tools and problems experienced in adopting AI tools. Review also showed that
widely used AI applications were Interior AI, RoomGPT, Foyr Neo, Houzz Pro, 5D
Planner and SketchUp. A study, wherein, Interior design students were given an
assignment to develop office designs for fictional characters from a TV show using
Midjourney, an AI tool, it was found that AI is a powerful tool for interior design
visualization, but it should be seen as a collaborator, not a replacement for human
designers. As AI databases are further developed with more detailed information
and real-world considerations, AI-generated designs will become even more
sophisticated and functional [19]. Another study revealed that designers supported
integrating AI with traditional design methods, acknowledging that some AI-
generated designs might require modifications and over half the designers believe
AI streamlined the design process, saved time and effort, enhanced design skills and
imagination, and facilitated communication with clients [20].

4. METHODOLOGY
The type of research design used was descriptive. The city of Vadodara was the
locale of the study. Practicing interior designers served as the inquiry unit for the
present study. Using the purposive sampling technique, a sample size of 80
respondents was chosen. Included were the responders who used AI tools or
technology. A questionnaire was employed as a research study instrument. Three-
point scale was used to collect the know the extent of use of AI Tools and in section
–III, Three- point scale was constructed to measure the problems experienced by
Interior Designers in adopting Artificial Intelligence and for the both the scales the
response structure was revealed in terms of “Always”, “Sometimes”, “Never”.
Questionnaires were distributed to participants by using Google form, and
respondents were informed that all opinions provided by them were kept
confidential. A methodical approach was taken in gathering and documenting the
data, and descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and weighted mean
were employed. The data were collected and categorized into demographic
information, extent of use of AI Tools and problems experienced by interior designer
in using the AI Tools.

5. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1. DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF THE RESPONDENTS
Information about the respondents' demographics is included in this section. It
contains the respondents' personal information pertaining to the AI tools and
technology they employ. The results pertaining to the respondents' personal

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 Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practices and Problems Experienced by Interior Designers

information encompassed their age, gender, level of education, annual income, type
of work or employment, work experience, and projects completed.
Figure 1

Background Information of the Respondents (n=80)

91.25% 76.25% 89.06%

78.75%
7.5% 1.25% 21.25% 23.75% 10.94%

21-28

29-37

38-45

Male
Female
Graduate

Graduate

Unmarried
Married
Post
Age(in years) Educational Gender Marital Status
Qualification

Figure 1 Personal Demographic characteristics of the Respondents.

The majority of respondents (91.25%) were between the ages of 21 and 28,
according to Figure 1. According to the gender-specific findings (Figure 1), there
were more female respondents than male respondents more than three fourth
(76.25 percent) than male respondents. More than three fourth (78.25%) of the
respondents had graduate-level education, according to the findings. The majority
of respondents 89.06 percent were found to be married.
Figure 2
90 Professional Information of the Respondents (n=80)
80
70
60 76.25
50
40 52.5 48.75
30 20
37.5
20 3.75 1.25 20 25 1.25 7.5 6.25
10
0
Architectural/…

Own Firm/ Business

1-3 Year
Academics

more than 6 years

Less than 1 yr

4-6 years
Freelance Work

student
₹300001- ₹600000

₹600001- ₹900000
₹10000- ₹300000

Employed at

Personal Annual Nature of Work Employment Work Experience (in

Income ( in Rs) Years)

Figure 2 Professional Information of the Respondents

The data in the Figure-2 revealed that more than three fourth (76.25 per cent)
of the respondents were having their personal income between Rs. 10000/- to Rs.
3,00,000/-. It was also found that more than one half (50.50 per cent) of the
respondents were employed at architectural and Interior Design firms. From the

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 Dr. Mona Mehta, Himani Shah, and Rakhi Dasgupta

Figure 3 it was revealed that less than one half (48.75 per cent) of the respondents
were having work experience between 1-3 years.

1) Extent of Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools by the Respondents

Figure 3

Extent of Use of AI Tools by the Respondents (n=80)

High Extent of Use 33.75%

Moderate Extent of Use 38.75%

Low Extent of Use 27.5%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Figure 3 Extent of Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools by the Respondents

More than one third (38.75 per cent) of the respondents were always used AI
Tools/Technologies to visualize perceived design ideas, to generate various layouts
for design execution, to promote your work as an interior designer, to create 3D
views of spaces, to create 3D views of spaces with components of specific brands
were found at moderate extent (Fig. 3).
Figure 4

Weighted mean scores of Extent of Use of AI Tools by

the Respondents (n=80)

Overall Weighted mean 2.04

1.98
To create 3D views of spaces… 2.05
2.16
To communicate with agencies… 1.95
2.06
To generate sustainable… 2.04
2.06
To handle personalized time… 1.93
1.98
To promote your work as an… 2.2
2.11
To generate various layouts for… 1.98
1.96
To create personalized design… 2.01
2.16
To find inspiration for design… 2.11
1.7 1.8 1.9 2 2.1 2.2

Figure 4 Weighted mean scores of the Extent of Use of AI Tools by the Respondents

The weighted mean scores for Extent of use of AI tools by the respondents
reflected that majority of the designers use AI Tools for promoting work as an
Interior Designer, and Secondly to create 3D views of spaces and to visualize
perceived design ideas (Fig. 4).

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 Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practices and Problems Experienced by Interior Designers

2) Extent of Problems Experienced in Adopting AI Technologies by the

Respondents
Figure 5

Extent of Problems Experienced in Adopting AI

Technologies by the Respondents (n=80)

HIGH EXTENT 26.25%

MODERATE EXTENT 58.75%

LOW EXTENT 15%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Figure 5 Extent of Problems Experienced in Adopting AI Technologies by the Respondents

More the one-half (58.75 per cent) of the respondents always experienced
problems in adopting AI tools/technologies with regards to financial constraints,
constant requirement of up gradation/ subscription/renewal, excessive storage
requirement, application/software restrictions, outsourcing restrictions/issues
were found at Moderate extent (Fig. 5).
Figure 6

Weighted mean scores of Extent of Problems

Experienced in Adopting AI Technologies by the
Respondents (n=80)
Overall Weighted mean 2.06
Lack of necessary… 2.03
Outsourcing Restrictions/Issues 2.14
Application/Software restrictions 2.23
Excessive storage requirement 2.19
Device(s) Limitations 2.11
Constant requirement of… 2.19
Fake/ substandard outcomes 1.89
Data tracking issues 1.95
Time Constraints 2.01
Financial Constraints 2.15
Delay in uploading/sending data 1.95
Network Issues (Connectivity &… 1.86
Lack of expertise/skills 2.14
Lack of awareness/knowledge 2.04
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2 2.1 2.2 2.3

Figure 6 Weighted mean scores of the Extent of Problems Experienced in Adopting AI Technologies
by the Respondents

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 Dr. Mona Mehta, Himani Shah, and Rakhi Dasgupta

The weighted mean scores for extent of problems experienced in adopting AI

Technologies revealed that application /software restriction (2.23), excessive
storage requirement (2.19) and constant requirement of up gradation,
subscription/ renewal (2.19) were found to be the major problems experienced
(Fig. 6).

6. CONCLUSION
The Findings on weighted mean scores on extent of use of AI tools reflected that
most of the respondents using AI tools to promote their work as an Interior Design.
Further it was also found that the Weighted Mean Scores on Extent of problems
highlighted that application software's restriction problems experienced by the
respondents. Based on the present study awareness programmes as well as skill
development programmes can be organized for students of interior design to orient
them regarding various AI tools and their use and applications. Advance level
courses on popular AI tools can be planned for professional interior designers.

7. IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY

1) By researching into the diverse landscape of AI tools utilized within the
industry and uncovering the challenges encountered during their
implementation, this research equips individuals with valuable
insights crucial for navigating the rapidly evolving intersection of
design and technology.
2) For students, it offers a comprehensive understanding of the current
AI, empowering them with knowledge of popular tools and an
awareness of potential hurdles they may encounter upon entering the
field.
3) For professional interior designers, it serves as a guide, providing
practical insights into the real-world application of AI and offering
foresight into the obstacles they may confront in adopting these
transformative technologies.
4) Ultimately, this study not only enhances the awareness and
understanding of AI within the interior design community but also
fosters a more informed and prepared cohort of designers poised to
leverage AI to its fullest potential while mitigating its associated
challenges.

8. RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FUTURE STUDY

1) Based on the findings of the study, further investigation can be done
regarding task-wise extent of use of AI tools and Technologies in the
field of Interior Design.
2) The effectiveness of widely used AI tools and Technology in Interior
Design Projects (Residential and Commercial) could also be studied.
3) Preference of Interior Designers for type of AI tools/technologies can
be studied.
4) It is further recommended that more knowledge dissemination and
skill development programmes should be organized for Interior Design
Professionals regarding use of AI tools/technologies.
ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts 105
 Artificial Intelligence (AI): Practices and Problems Experienced by Interior Designers

5) Conduct case studies and interviews with practicing interior designers

who have implemented AI tools or technologies in their work

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
None.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The responsibility for the facts stated, opinions expressed, and the conclusions
drawn is the entirety of the author.

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