How Creatives Approach GenAI Image Generation: Tensions Between Structured Guidance, Self-Experimentation, and Creative Autonomy
2026-05-11 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer Interaction
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how artists and hobbyists learn to use AI image tools. They found that people usually either try things on their own or follow tutorials, but often get confused by AI terms. When given structured guidance, some found it helpful, but many still liked experimenting by themselves because they felt guidance might limit their creativity. The study shows there is a tricky balance between teaching AI skills and letting artists freely explore. The authors highlight the challenge of helping creatives understand AI without restricting their creative freedom.
Generative AIHuman-Computer Interaction (HCI)AI literacyCreative practiceStructured guidanceSelf-experimentationTutorialsPerception studyCreative freedom
Authors
Haidan Liu, Isabelle Kwan, Taiga Okuma, Jeffrey Loverock, Nicholas Vincent, Parmit K Chilana
Abstract
As generative AI tools increasingly influence creative practice, they raise longstanding HCI questions about how creatives learn complex software and how they can be better supported. We conducted an interview study with artists and hobbyists (n=8) and a follow-up survey (n=159) to understand how this population approaches and seeks guidance for GenAI image tools. We found that creatives commonly use either self-experimentation or tutorials to explore GenAI tools, yet many struggle with confusing AI terminology. To gain further insight into creatives' learning experiences, we developed a research probe to elicit creatives' perceptions of structured guidance. Our user study with 17 creatives revealed that, even when creatives described the guidance as helpful for understanding AI, many still preferred self-experimentation, feeling that guidance could limit their creativity. Our findings highlight a central tension in supporting AI literacy for creatives: balancing guidance and promoting literacy while preserving creative freedom.