earticle

영어

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has reshaped the landscape of visual content creation, enabling individuals to produce high-quality outputs in seconds [2,3]. While traditional visual literacy—centered on interpretation, analysis, and creation—remains essential [1], it is insufficient for navigating AI-integrated creative environments [4]. This study aims to redefine visual literacy competencies for design majors by incorporating AI-era skills into existing educational frameworks [2,5]. Using a three-phase exploratory methodology, the research first analyzed curricula from five leading Korean visual communication design programs, revealing a strong focus on aesthetic and compositional training but limited integration of AI-related competencies [6]. Second, case studies of AI-assisted design projects utilizing Midjourney, Firefly, and DALL·E were conducted with 32 undergraduate participants [3,8]. Third, the results were compared with traditional visual literacy models to develop the Hybrid Visual Literacy Model, which integrates traditional skills with AI-specific competencies [7]. Findings identified three core competencies required in the generative AI era: Interpretive Competence (understanding and analyzing AI-generated imagery [4]), Planning Competence (strategic prompt design to guide outputs [5,6]), and Ethical Critique Competence (evaluating contextual relevance, originality, and ethical implications [7,8]). Quantitative analysis showed significant gains in both traditional and AI-specific skills, with notable improvements in AI Output Evaluation (+38%) and Integration into Coherent Design (+31%) [3]. Qualitative findings highlighted enhanced ideation, critical awareness, and the urgent need for structured ethical guidelines [9,10]. The study concludes that design education must adopt a competency-based approach that integrates AI literacy with traditional training, ensuring that future designers can maintain creative agency, uphold ethical standards, and collaborate effectively with AI technologies [2,7].