LEXI
The Aesthetic Loop
AI, Homogenization, and the Erosion of Visual Diversity
In China’s advertising market, low-quality AI-generated visuals are rapidly taking over—rough, generic, and unmistakably artificial. Despite their clear lack of connection to real-life products and consumer aesthetics, these AI images dominate simply because they are fast, cost-effective, and perceived as innovative. This thesis explores how the blind adoption of AI-generated content prioritizes efficiency over genuine design quality, leading to visual hegemony—where businesses favor AI production over thoughtful, audience-centered creativity. As a result, good design is being squeezed out of the market, replaced by an aesthetic dictated by automation rather than human intuition. Are we truly advancing creative industries, or are we just letting AI dictate the lowest common denominator?
Lexi is a student majoring in graphic design, exploring the intersection of tradition and innovation in my work. Beyond design, Lexi finds inspiration in global cuisine, music, and cultural storytelling.