Metaverse universe and artificial intelligence as technology-focused platforms: an analysis from the perspective of industrial design education

This thesis aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence and metaverse platforms on industrial design education. With the advancement of technology, design processes and educational methods have undergone significant transformation; digital platforms have emerged as both tools and environments, offering new opportunities within the design discipline. In this context, the historical development of the concepts of metaverse and artificial intelligence, their relationship with industrial design, and their role in education are addressed through a literature review. In the practical part of the study, a four-stage workshop was conducted with fourth-year students from the Department of Industrial Design at Eskişehir Technical University. Participants experienced the process by designing AI-assisted shoes for avatars within the Fortnite metaverse platform. Data were collected regarding learning curves, platform usage, the role of AI in the creative process, and designer identity. Thematic analysis of the findings revealed that while AI fosters creativity, it also poses limitations in areas such as originality and style transfer. Metaverse platforms, on the other hand, were found to play an important role in raising design awareness and contributing to digital production processes in education. In conclusion, the use of AI and metaverse technologies as tools in industrial design education requires a comprehensive transformation in pedagogical, aesthetic, and cultural terms. This thesis contributes to the literature by offering suggestions for digitized creative design processes and next-generation educational models.