Design Ethics in Design Intelligence: A Framework for Ethical Artificial Intelligence-Augmented Design Practice

The emergence of Design Intelligence (DI), which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) applications in design (AI for Design) and the intelligent design of AI systems themselves (Design for AI), introduces novel ethical challenges that extend beyond traditional design ethics frameworks. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensure that AI systems enhance, rather than replace, human design capabilities. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review of 168 articles across the fields of design ethics, AI ethics, and DI literature. The review focused on examining how four foundational ethical frameworks—Outcome Ethics, Duty Ethics, Relational Ethics, and Virtue Ethics—can inform and improve DI practice, particularly in the context of designing AI systems for design applications. The analysis revealed that effective DI practice requires not only technical AI literacy but also the integration of robust ethical scaffolding that embeds moral reasoning throughout the design process. Ethical considerations in DI align closely with the AI alignment problem, underscoring the need for the deliberate incorporation of human values, relational dynamics, and cultivation of virtues within design workflows. These findings highlight that these ethical frameworks collectively address the unique challenges of human-AI collaborative design. This research proposes an integrated ethical framework that positions design ethics as an essential component of DI. The ethical design of AI systems is inseparable from the broader goal of developing AI that supports and augments human creativity and decision-making. Embedding ethical considerations throughout DI practice is imperative for fostering responsible and human-centered AI-enhanced designs.