SArD Faculty Explore the Potential of AI in Design Through Three-Day Workshop Series

The Teaching and Learning Committee (TLC) of the School of Architecture and Design (SArD) organized a three-day faculty development workshop series titled AI for Design, bringing together 23 faculty members to explore how artificial intelligence can support academic work, teaching, creative practice, and research across disciplines.

Held on October 16, 17, and 23, 2026, at LAU’s Beirut Campus, the hands-on workshops introduced participants to generative AI tools and AI agents and examined their applications in design processes, research, and teaching. The workshop was led by Aziz Barbar, a computational designer and architect, LAU alumnus and graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Design. The program catered to faculty from Architecture, Interior Design, Fashion, Graphic Design, and Studio Arts, combining presentations, demonstrations, and practical exercises.

The first session, AI Literacy and Everyday Practice, explored AI capabilities and limitations and their applications in academic work, teaching, and research, using tools such as Claude and NotebookLM for research synthesis, teaching material development, and workflow automation. The following two sessions, The Agentic Studio, focused on discipline-specific design applications, including AI-assisted image generation, node-based workflows, and AI agents for interacting with design and 3D modeling software, as well as prototyping interactive tools and digital artworks through coding agents.

Through this initiative, the School of Architecture & Design is ushering in a new approach to engaging hands-on with emerging technologies, critically examining their potential and limitations, and considering new ways to integrate AI into design education, research, and creative practice.