Explore Inspiring Student Work Amplified by Generative AI

The 2024–2025 academic year has been a transformative time for generative AI in higher education. Students are no longer simply asking chatbots to answer questions and summarize information — they’re using AI technology as a powerful partner for learning and creativity. 

In our final Digital Literacy Café (DLC) session of the school year, we featured students from diverse disciplines who’ve created innovative course projects using generative AI. They described their decision-making processes and shared their experiences of ideating, designing, and learning with tools like Adobe Firefly. 

Visualizing the cosmos with generative AI

The first speaker was Lizette Rodriguez, a third-year student majoring in physics and minoring in astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition to using generative AI on a daily basis to help her learn STEM concepts, she recently used Firefly as part of a visualization project in which she: 

1. Wrote a text prompt to generate an image of binary star systems exchanging dust.

2. Analyzed the image and wrote a critique identifying aspects that weren’t scientifically accurate. 

3. Generated a second, more accurate image, and analyzed that.

Rodriguez said she sees the AI visualization process as invaluable not just to her own learning, but also to her field and eventual career. “It’s going to help us understand, in the future, how binary star systems are supposed to interact based on our conceptual understanding of physics and astronomy.” 

Using Adobe Firefly to help design accessible interiors

A junior studying interior design at Central Michigan University, Cole Taylor spoke next. He shared that, in his Advanced CAD for Interiors course, he was tasked with using generative AI to research, concept, and create accurate final renderings of various designs. His projects included:

1. Re-concepting a department store building into an accessible café, and using Firefly to generate images of the Aurora Borealis for light fixtures and other accent details

2. Creating a landscape design, and using Firefly to ideate on harmonious plant and flower arrangements

3. Designing siding for a staircase, and using Firefly to create an intricate custom pattern for wood paneling 

   
   

“As a designer, you're constantly looking at codes and constantly looking to make sure everything's compliant, and sometimes we don't have enough time to focus on that creative aspect,” Taylor said. That’s why he relishes using generative AI to help him come up with “brilliant, brilliant” design ideas. “Taking that critical eye, looking at accessibility and looking at the codes, really balancing the logic versus the creativity — I think that’s where Firefly thrives.”

Empowering fellow students with digital literacy

The final speaker was Nicole Hopkins, an instructional support specialist at Montana State University who teaches students how to build essential digital skills with tools like Adobe Express and Firefly. She shared two popular lessons she’s designed and delivered to students across campus:

1. A “Build-a-Brand” workshop in which she has students use Firefly features in Adobe Express to create a brand from scratch, complete with a logo and mascot

2. A brand assignment in a writing class, in which students create a simple logo and then embellish it using generative AI

Hopkins said her favorite part of her job is introducing these tools to students outside of traditionally creative majors and opening their eyes to new ways of solving problems. “Because Adobe Express is so easy and integrates with these AI tools, it’s really broadening their access. There’s no longer this barrier of the learning curve.”

To see the students’ work and hear their perspectives on using generative AI constructively, critically, and ethically, watch the webinar recording. And to find out more about driving academic outcomes and career readiness with creative and AI tools, explore the Adobe Creative Campus program.