Using Generative AI in Architecture and Urban Design

In this hands-on AI in Design workshop, I worked with Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Design students at the University of Melbourne Melbourne School of Design to explore how Generative AI can enhance and extend their design practice. The session introduced a curated suite of tools, Midjourney for speculative visualisation, ChatGPT for concept development and building theory agents, Runway for image-to-video animation, and Krea image-to-3D modelling. Rather than treating AI as a novelty or threat, the workshop invited students to critically engage with these tools as collaborators in the design process. We focused on practical, task-based activities to help students understand not just how these technologies work, but how to use them strategically and ethically in their workflows.

Workshop 1: Midjourney introduces participants to text-to-image generation using Midjourney. It covers fundamental concepts, prompt design, and practical application, including setting up Midjourney on Discord and optimising the prompting process. The session also delves into advanced features such as Remix, varying regions, and using parameters for enhanced control and personalisation.

Workshop 2: ChatGPT teaches participants how to effectively prompt with ChatGPT, develop design projects using the tool, utilise ChatGPT Canvas, and build custom AI agents. Additionally, it covers understanding the fundamentals of Large Language Models and includes bonus topics like Midjourney’s image editor and retexture features, and RunwayML’s image-to-video capabilities.

• for: Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne
• year: March 2025 — April 2025