Designing for Gen AI

COMS 6998 section 11 · Fall 2024

Designing for Generative AI is a project-based class where you meet with staff weekly to discuss project feedback. COMS 4170 (UI Design) is a strict prerequisite. You must be well versed in full-stack web development (Backend and front end)

To apply for the class, please fill out this application. You may edit the application after you send it.


Goals
1. Understand the capabilities of Generative AI Models.
2. Discover specific needs of users.
3. Develop generative AI applications that help users solve critical problems.

TAs
  • TBA
Weekly schedule
  • Lecture
    Friday 12:10–2pm, Location TBA

Teaching method
This is a studio style class in the tradition of art and architecture. Students are expected to already know the fundamental techniques. We will practice these techniques as well as give and recieve critique on a weekly basis. Attendance is mandatory. Any absence, excused or otherwise, must be made up.

Prerequisites
All material from COMS 4170 is a mandatory prerequisite for this class including: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScipt, critique, and iterative design. This material will not be covered; this course will exercise and hone the skills learned in that class. Students interesting in learning web programming and design should take COMS 4170.

Grading
In-class participation: 20%
Attendance is mandatory. Any absence, excused or otherwise, must be made up convenience of the staff. It is the students job to coordinate make up sessions within 6 days of the absence. To make up a class, find a staff member at least one other classmate and schedule a time to do a design review of your past week's progress. Give and recieved feedback from your peers.

Weekly Turn-ins: 60%
Every week student will turn in a document that described their progress during the week. There are 13 weeks of class and 12 turn-ins. Each turn-in is worth 5% of your final grade.

Final Project: 20%
Projects may be individual work, or students may work in pairs of 2. Project assessment is based on individual write ups of your contribution to the project.

Syllabus

Weeks 1-3
Introduction to LLM technologies and patterns: RAG, Reflexion, ControlNet, Tree-of-thought, etc.
Project exploration and brainstorming.

Week 4-5
Web technologies: React, Firebase, Typescript
Prototyping

Weeks 6-8
Testing, Iteration

Weeks 9-10
Launching applications

Weeks 11-12
Iteration and user interviews

Week 13
Presentation and write up