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Main Authors: Li, Mingyi, Chen, Mengyi, Luo, Sarah, Cao, Yining, Xia, Haijun, Das, Maitraye, Dow, Steven P., E, Jane L.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.04754
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author Li, Mingyi
Chen, Mengyi
Luo, Sarah
Cao, Yining
Xia, Haijun
Das, Maitraye
Dow, Steven P.
E, Jane L.
author_facet Li, Mingyi
Chen, Mengyi
Luo, Sarah
Cao, Yining
Xia, Haijun
Das, Maitraye
Dow, Steven P.
E, Jane L.
contents Visual design instructors often provide multi-modal feedback, mixing annotations with text. Prior theory emphasizes the importance of actionable feedback, where "actionability" lies on a spectrum--from surfacing relevant design concepts to suggesting concrete fixes. How might creativity tools implement annotations that support such feedback, and how does the actionability of feedback impact novices' process-related behaviors, perceptions of creativity, learning of design principles, and overall outcomes? We introduce VizCrit, a system for providing computational feedback that supports the actionability spectrum, realized through algorithmic issue detection and visual annotation generation. In a between-subjects study (N=36), novices revised a design under one of three conditions: textbook-based, awareness-centered, or solution-centered feedback. We found that solution-centered feedback led to fewer design issues and higher self-perceived creativity compared with textbook-based feedback, although expert ratings on creativity showed no significant differences. We discuss the implications for AI in Creativity Support Tools, including the potential of calibrating feedback actionability to help novices balance productivity with learning, growth, and developing design awareness.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_04754
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle VizCrit: Exploring Strategies for Displaying Computational Feedback in a Visual Design Tool
Li, Mingyi
Chen, Mengyi
Luo, Sarah
Cao, Yining
Xia, Haijun
Das, Maitraye
Dow, Steven P.
E, Jane L.
Human-Computer Interaction
Visual design instructors often provide multi-modal feedback, mixing annotations with text. Prior theory emphasizes the importance of actionable feedback, where "actionability" lies on a spectrum--from surfacing relevant design concepts to suggesting concrete fixes. How might creativity tools implement annotations that support such feedback, and how does the actionability of feedback impact novices' process-related behaviors, perceptions of creativity, learning of design principles, and overall outcomes? We introduce VizCrit, a system for providing computational feedback that supports the actionability spectrum, realized through algorithmic issue detection and visual annotation generation. In a between-subjects study (N=36), novices revised a design under one of three conditions: textbook-based, awareness-centered, or solution-centered feedback. We found that solution-centered feedback led to fewer design issues and higher self-perceived creativity compared with textbook-based feedback, although expert ratings on creativity showed no significant differences. We discuss the implications for AI in Creativity Support Tools, including the potential of calibrating feedback actionability to help novices balance productivity with learning, growth, and developing design awareness.
title VizCrit: Exploring Strategies for Displaying Computational Feedback in a Visual Design Tool
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.04754