Linus Tan, Ph.D.
Hello, I’m Linus.
I am an academic in architecture and design at Swinburne University of Technology.
I research how architects and design teams think, behave, and learn. I also explore how Generative AI transforms their cognitive processes, behaviors, and learning methods.
PS: My website is not finished always growing.
Recent publications | All publications
Designing an AI mentor for early career researchers
in CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation
This study describes the creation of a Generative AI career mentor tailored for Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Drawing on Career Construction Theory and research career mentorship, this research uses Design Science methodology to create and evaluate Generative AI mentor chatbot. To evaluate the design, the AI mentor’s assessment and guidance (i.e. the AI outputs) are compared and critiqued against the researcher’s self assessment, a colleague’s assessment, and a supervisor’s assessment.
Using GenAI Midjourney to Enhance Divergent and Convergent Thinking in Architectural Design
in The Design Journal
Trending and Most read article
Architects use a range of tools, from the traditional pencil to Virtual Reality technologies to prototype and articulate their creative designs. In recent years, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) software has reached the mainstream and there is an exponential appearance of GenAI images that portray architectural designs. This article documents an architectural design methodology that uses Midjourney, a text-to-image GenAI software, as a design tool that enhances architects’ creativity.
Ill-Defined Problems in Wicked Learning Environments
in She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation
Many of today’s global problems are complex and difficult to solve—some may even be impossible. Designing for such complex problems is unavoidable, but doing so without understanding biases and the repercussions of one’s design experience and actions compounds its complexity. This article explores what informs designers’ decisions (design cognition) and drives their activities (design behavior) when addressing complex problems and their implications.
Engagements | All engagements
Using GenAI in Lesson Preparation to Enhance Student Engagement
AI in higher education presentation | 07 February 2025
I used GenAI in my postgraduate Design Innovation studio to streamline lesson preparation and craft engaging multi-modal learning experiences. This approach has significantly reduced preparation time whilst enabling more dynamic, contextually-relevant content delivery. The evidence
shows enhanced student engagement and improved comprehension of complex concepts, particularly through the integration of contemporary real-world examples.
Decision-making AI Assistant:
Powered by people, empowered by AI
Solution pitch for Shark tank | 10 December 2024
In today’s fast-paced world, organisations face numerous challenges, including untimely or incomplete information, cognitive overload, competing priorities, and limited time, all within a constantly evolving market and competitive landscape. Introducing The Grapevine, an AI-powered assistant designed to empower organisational leaders with informed decision-making. As a viewpoint analysis tool, The Grapevine anticipates challenges and prioritises opportunities by leveraging real-time, on-the-ground insights and available resources.
TEDx Talk:
Changing our creative flow for GenAI
Presentation for general public | 12 September 2024
As Generative AI technologies evolve, they not only become more efficient at mimicking human creativity, but also fundamentally challenge our approaches to this complex trait. Do outputs from Generative AI truly qualify as ‘creative’? How are our creative inputs being amplified or diminished by these technologies? And finally, how must we adapt our creative skills to maximise the benefits of AI-augmented creativity?
AI Learning series:
Using GenAI to refine assessment rubrics
Workshop for educators | 21 August 2024
Discover the potential of Generative AI in refining assessment rubrics and feedback in higher education. In this one hour workshop, we will apply AI tools to develop assessment criteria and assessment bands descriptions. This practical application is to enhance assignment clarity, creating exemplar works for each assessment bands, and improve feedback efficiency.
Teaching and supervisions | All teaching
Higher degree by research
GenAI in Design Sensemaking
This industry-based research investigates How can designers use AI to augment their sensemaking capabilities for understanding user, stakeholder and system needs in the discovery phase of design projects?
- Supervision team: Jeni Paay, Linus Tan
GenAI for Architectural Co-Design
This research employs Design Research Methodology to examine How can image GenAI influence and transform early phases of a collaborative design process for innovative and creative placemaking?
- Supervision team: Charlie Ranscombe, Linus Tan
GenAI Aircraft Design Optimisation
This research investigates the intersection of design-driven innovation, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), and the role of designers acting as key interpreters in new product development (NPD). The research explores how leveraging GenAI in the metaproject phase of NPD by augmenting designers acting as key interpreters can increase their capacity to foster radical innovation and the success of these innovations.
- Supervision team: Anita Kocsis, Linus Tan
Indigenous Wisdom in Design
This research employs pluriversal design to learn from Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), which is informed by ‘slow knowledge’ that was place-based and embedded within local cultures (Orr 2004; Papanek 1995), and towards the pluriversal futures where no living being exists independently of the Earth and where humans and non-humans are in ever-changing entanglements as a part of the Earth’s vital forces and processes (Escobar, 2015).
- Supervision team: Anita Kocsis, Linus Tan
Postgraduate subjects
Architecture Design Thesis
This subject guides design students become experts in designing architecture and urban areas by interrogating social and community challenges related to design. Students learn to research independently, then develop a well-thought-out design strategy. They also create physical and digital models, evaluate them, and clearly present their ideas and processes, demonstrating how they integrated different knowledge like environment, materials, and culture into a holistic design proposal.
Architecture Design Research C
This subject facilitates students to improve their creative thinking by developing and refining speculative design ideas that address complex, modern global issues. They will use flexible learning skills to handle unpredictable results and link difficult or opposite elements, learning from mistakes through design interactions while using architecture or urban design to solve design and research challenges.
Design-led Research
This subject teaches students a method where design activities are used to explore and gain knowledge. Students will create and reflect on design projects, considering how they fit within social, cultural, and technological settings, while using design to investigate questions and find solutions.
view Studio (Un)Real: Pluriversal v1
Applied Innovation Studio
This subject facilitates learning and practising design, focusing on prototyping skills. Students enhance their innovative approaches and use of technology in design, storytelling, and making to create future-focused design outcomes.
Design Technology
This subject facilitates learning and practicing design, focusing on developing technical, creative, and communication skills. Students enhance their innovative approaches and use of technology in design, understanding spatial, material, and economic aspects, and exploring new material and digital fabrication methods.
Undergraduate subjects
Architecture Design Studio 1
In this subject, students learn about medium-sized projects and design methods, using 2D drafting and 3D modeling for communication. They will also gain knowledge of structures and sustainability, articulate their design intentions, and understand key concepts in architectural history, color theories, and planning.
Architectural Communication 2
In this subject, students design installations that communicate with occupants, blending technology and human interaction. Over twelve weeks, students explore different ways design represent hidden meanings, create animated prototypes, and study design elements as parts of dynamic systems, enhancing their understanding and skills in viewing space as interactive networks.
