Ephemerae

The theme centers on AI’s role as more than a tool—it acts as a partner that learns, interprets, and improvises in response to human creativity. By integrating my programmed AI, SketchRNN, DoodleNet, and time-responsive prompts, the website provides a dynamic experience that continually evolves based on user interactions.

This project builds upon the psychological insights of doodling, focusing on how unplanned, free-flowing drawing can tap into the subconscious. Research shows that doodling activates the brain’s “default mode network,” facilitating free association and cognitive processing. This insight shaped the concept of Brain Mapping, where AI interprets patterns in doodles to respond to emotional cues and provide evolving prompts based on user engagement. Inspiration came from generative and abstract art styles, as well as from AI-driven design techniques that enhance organic forms. This led to an adaptive, visually cohesive interface that reinforces the dynamic relationship between AI and human creativity.

Research for this project involved examining the cognitive impact of doodling and how AI can interact with such a spontaneous process. Studies on machine learning models like SketchRNN and DoodleNet informed the technical approach, highlighting how AI can recognize, classify, and generate drawings that respond to user inputs in real time. The choice to use a time-responsive prompt system reflects findings on how cognitive engagement varies throughout the day. Critical reflections from project phases underscored AI’s ability to act as a creative partner, influencing the decision to design an Infinite Canvas where users and AI co-create. Visual precedents in abstract generative design were instrumental in shaping the project’s visual identity, prioritizing fluidity, unpredictability, and open-ended interaction.