When Teams Embrace AI: Human Collaboration Strategies in Generative Prompting in a Creative Design Task

2025-09-25

AI Summary

This study investigates the interaction mechanisms underlying human–generative AI (GenAI) collaborative prompting in creative design. Adopting a qualitative approach, it integrates field observations and in-depth interviews with designer teams employing GenAI for collaborative ideation and refinement. The analysis reveals two distinct prompting pathways—“story-first” and “visual-first”—and proposes a “dual-path collaborative prompting model.” This model underscores how human collaboration regulates prompt quality and highlights the critical role of shared domain expertise in co-design system architecture. Results indicate that teams leverage GenAI to rapidly reach consensus and iteratively refine prompting strategies; however, they predominantly treat GenAI as a tool rather than an equal collaborator. Human partners significantly reduce reliance on AI outputs, reaffirming human agency and leadership in AI-augmented co-creation. The study contributes a human-centered theoretical framework and actionable insights for designing collaborative AI systems in creative domains.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Human-AI Collaboration / Human-AI Teaming
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Computational Creativity
• Natural Language Processing: Prompt Engineering / Prompting

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Uses of LLMs and GenAI for marketplace design, bidding, and strategic interactions
• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions

Abstract

Studies of Generative AI (GenAI)-assisted creative workflows have focused on individuals overcoming challenges of prompting to produce what they envisioned. When designers work in teams, how do collaboration and prompting influence each other, and how do users perceive generative AI and their collaborators during the co-prompting process? We engaged students with design or performance backgrounds, and little exposure to GenAI, to work in pairs with GenAI to create stage designs based on a creative theme. We found two patterns of collaborative prompting focused on generating story descriptions first, or visual imagery first. GenAI tools helped participants build consensus in the task, and allowed for discussion of the prompting strategies. Participants perceived GenAI as efficient tools rather than true collaborators, suggesting that human partners reduced the reliance on their use. This work highlights the importance of human-human collaboration when working with GenAI tools, suggesting systems that take advantage of shared human expertise in the prompting process.

Problem

• Explores team collaboration strategies in AI-assisted creative design
• Examines how co-prompting affects perception of AI and collaborators
• Investigates human consensus-building through generative AI prompting

Innovation

• Human teams collaborate using generative AI prompting
• AI tools build consensus and discuss prompting strategies
• Systems leverage shared human expertise in prompting