Inspiration or Theft? Ethical Boundaries in the Creative Process

Dawn Davidson and David G. Stone

Design ethics in the technological era. Where do we draw the line?

In this session, we’ll explore the evolving landscape where design ethics meets creative innovation and technological advancement. Join our intimate roundtable hosted by AIGA board member Dawn Davidson and chapter leader David G. Stone from AIGA Chicago to wrestle with the blurry boundaries between inspiration and appropriation in an AI-transformed creative landscape. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation.

Bring your questions, challenges, and perspectives as we collectively explore:
• When does “influenced by” become “copied from”?
• How are generative tools reshaping our understanding of originality?
• What ethical frameworks can guide us when traditional rules no longer apply?

No slideshows. No manifestos. Just an authentic exchange between creative minds grappling with design ethics in real time.

This episode was originally streamed live on Friday, April 18, 2025.