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Ronnie Alley

MFA in Graphic Design - 2 Yr Path — Graduate Graphic Design
Course:
Graduate Thesis Studio
Faculty:
Samantha Fleming
Term:
2026 Spring

Machine Gaze

This master’s thesis is the culmination of seven months of intensive study and analysis exploring the ways human identity is represented by artificial intelligence. With a particular focus on generative AI, Machine Gaze asks us to consider what power we cede when we engage with the machine uncritically.

View full project case study HERE.

Process:

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in society, and its growing presence in designers’ daily workflows, I set out to probe deeper into the machine and examine how it depicts human identity.

This research led me to develop an exhibit and talk that exposes patterns found in the results and challenges designers to engage with AI more critically.

Learning Outcomes:

After conducting over 500 studies using generative AI models, I found persistent stereotypes embedded within the results, along with a clear and consistent bias toward overly representing white men. These outcomes point to how real-world ideals and biases persist within the datasets that shape generative AI.

Project Website:
https://ronniealleydesign.com/projects/machine-gaze
Tags:
Data Visualization,
Publication Design,
Research-Based Design