Participatory Design in Environmental Contexts: The Influence of Topic-Related Attitudes on Ideation

Abstract

Creativity support tools (CSTs) play a fundamental role in supporting creativity in human-computer interaction (HCI). The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), has significantly transformed human-computer interactions and, consequently, CSTs. However, little attention has been paid to how LLM-based CSTs reconfigure convergent thinking, decision-making, and agency dynamics throughout the design process, especially in sustainability-oriented contexts. We present a theory-driven conceptual synthesis to analyze how LLM-based CSTs transform AI-assisted convergent thinking. Based on existing research on these dynamics, we propose a conceptual reconfiguration of individual evaluation towards mediated decision-agency. This conceptual framework culminates in five theoretical implications for the design of LLM-based CSTs, proposing principles to support mediated decision-agency, promote situated transparency, and reinforce human autonomy in sustainability-oriented convergence processes.