Will Evolutionary Processes Replace Human Designers?

The aim of advancing evolutionary algorithms is not to replace human designers but rather to support them in delving into and articulately navigating both the problem and solution domains of design. These algorithms offer a way to broaden the scope of design exploration, potentially reducing the designer's tendency to fixate on a limited array of solutions by presenting diverse alternatives. Interactive genetic algorithms (IGAs), in particular, provide a framework for designers to actively participate and steer the creative process according to their subjective preferences, effectively incorporating their understanding of the design space. The success of IGAs in reaching a desired level of creative contribution largely hinges on the designer's ability to effectively model the design space to foster creativity.

Moreover, a significant hurdle in applying evolutionary algorithms lies in the designer's skill in codifying their design knowledge into rules that algorithms can operate on. This suggests that the computational design capabilities are, to a considerable extent, reliant on the input and guidance from their human counterparts. Therefore, designers acting as meta-designers to achieve these goals might require advanced skills and specialisation. Investigating the role of evolutionary algorithms as tools to augment and extend the creative capacities of humans in design practices remains a relevant and intriguing domain.