Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
Dean's Office Qatar
First Advisor
Giovanni Innella
Second Advisor
Jesse W. Payne
Third Advisor
Stella Colaleo
Fourth Advisor
Jesse G. Ulmer
Abstract
When images can be generated in seconds, what remains uniquely human in the act of creation? In Search of the Soul of Creativity: Authorship, Agency, and Meaning in Refractive Collaboration with Generative AI investigates where authorship, agency, and meaning reside within design practices mediated by generative AI. Rather than using AI to produce predictable results, this research deliberately relinquishes control to observe how generative systems interpret language through their own learned associations. Through a practice-led investigation across four generative models within the Higgsfield platform, user prompts were progressively shortened from full sentences to single words, revealing recurring patterns and cultural biases hidden within those systems. In response, this thesis proposes “The Designer’s Journey,” a framework where meaning occurs not only at the moment of generation but also during acts of selection, sequencing, and adding context. This project culminates in four short films in an interactive digital portal, demonstrating that while AI may generate images, the designer ultimately forges the meaning.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-3-2026