How do we instill a lasting value for wondering and exploring? The kind of knowledge you gain by wrestling with tough questions shouldn’t be undermined or replaced by quick, easy answers. That’s the heart of the challenge for younger generations who now have this powerful tool: leaving room for the unexpected, the unresolved, and sometimes the longer route. Because it’s the journey—the struggle, the discovery, the exploration—that builds real learning. And while not every subject requires this approach, it’s the underlying spirit of education that matters most. That’s where we need to get creative right now.

— Maria Fernanda La Rotta

In concert with Rutgers’ code of conduct, which mandates that “all work submitted in a course,
academic research, or other activity is the student’s own and created without the aid of
impermissible technologies, materials, or collaborations,” this course is designed to help you
develop knowledge and emerging skills that will be valuable in your professional career.
AI tools may be used as an aid in the creative process but must be accompanied by critical
thinking and reflection. Students who choose to use these tools are responsible for any errors,
omissions, or inaccuracies in their work. Additionally, any AI-assisted content must be fully
documented in an appendix, including:

/ The AI tool(s) used
/ The prompts or inputs provided
/ The AI-generated output
/ A thoughtful reflection on its role in the work

AI-generated content must not replace original creative work or fundamental design
decisions.

When appropriate, students may also be asked to consider the environmental and social costs
associated with AI tools.

AI Use in Visual Design Work

AI may be used to support the creative process in the following ways:

/ Generating patterns or textures
/ Removing backgrounds from images
/ Refining or modifying images you have created
/ Silhouetting elements
/ Generating word lists for concept development
/ Assisting with research and idea organization
/ Extracting or generating minor elements (e.g., adding hair to an illustration)
/ Supplement research references

AI cannot be used in the following ways:

/ Submitting AI-generated images, illustrations, or compositions as your own work
/ Using AI to replace essential design decisions (e.g., typography, layout, composition)
/ Failing to document AI use in an appendix

AI Use in Written Content

AI may be used to assist with writing in the following ways:

/ Generating word lists or brainstorming ideas
/ Helping structure an outline
/ Refining sentence structure or grammar of your own writing
/ Assisting with research (acting a supplementary tool while critically evaluating sources)

AI cannot be used in the following ways:

/ Writing full project rationales, abstracts, artist statements, or critical reflections without
significant student revision
/ Replacing the student’s personal voice, analysis, or perspective
/ Submitting AI-generated content as-is, without meaningful revision
/ Failing to document AI use in an appendix

Documentation Requirements

Any use of AI in an assignment must be fully documented in an appendix, detailing:

/ The tool(s) used
/ How AI was applied in the design process or writing
/ How AI-generated content was integrated or modified within the final submission
Students should also be prepared to critically assess the role of AI in their work, considering its
impact on authorship, originality, and ethical implications in visual design and writing

You may also print a PDF of the Guidelines here.