Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral component of contemporary design practice, reshaping ideation, visualization, and routine production tasks. While AI delivers creative acceleration and operational efficiency, its psychological implications for designers remain insufficiently examined. Increasing dependence on generative and algorithmic tools introduces both relief from repetitive work and new anxieties surrounding originality, authorship, autonomy, and long-term job relevance. This research addresses this critical gap by investigating the dual impact of AI on designers’ mental health, focusing on emotional well-being, stress, burnout, creative confidence, and professional identity.

A mixed-method design was employed to capture both measurable trends and lived experiences. Quantitative data were collected from 58 participants, including undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and professional designers across textile, fashion, communication, and product design disciplines. A structured questionnaire assessed key indicators such as anxiety, creative control, burnout, perceived originality, productivity, and satisfaction using a five-point Likert scale. To deepen these insights, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted, enabling exploration of emotional reactions, cultural discomfort, fear of replacement, and personal strategies for navigating AI-assisted workflows. Descriptive statistical analysis mapped psychological patterns, while thematic coding revealed recurring concerns about creative displacement, cultural dilution, and adaptation fatigue.

Findings show that AI significantly reduces time spent on repetitive tasks and enhances experimentation and innovation, contributing to workflow ease and creative stimulation. However, these benefits coexist with heightened anxiety related to originality, fear of being overshadowed by AI-generated work, and reduced perceived control over the creative process. Moderate levels of burnout and mental fatigue emerged due to the constant need to adapt to rapidly evolving AI technologies. Designers who maintained a balanced human–AI collaboration demonstrated stronger creative confidence and emotional stability compared to those who relied heavily on AI or avoided it altogether.

The study concludes that sustainable and psychologically healthy AI adoption requires intentional integration frameworks, mental-wellness support, and pedagogical strategies that reinforce human creativity rather than diminish it. These insights contribute to evolving design education and the development of responsible technological ecosystems that protect creative identity while embracing innovation.