Mock Trial Teaches IDE Students to Critically Reflect on AI and Justice

In January 2025, the IDE Arena at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering (IDE) at TU Delft was transformed into a courtroom. As part of the master course Design Justice and Emerging Technologies, students participated in a mock trial debating the role of generative AI in design education. This innovative teaching approach was initiated by assistant professor Fernando Secomandi, in collaboration with the Delft Design for Values Institute.

During the sessions, students took on the roles of prosecutors, defenders, witnesses, and jury members. The prosecution argued for a ban on AI tools like ChatGPT in education, citing concerns about sustainability and creativity. The defense countered that banning AI would not make it disappear and that students should engage with the technology to guide it toward more sustainable and innovative uses.

Students found the mock trial to be a highly valuable learning experience. They noted that this interactive format helped them reflect more deeply and remember information better than traditional presentations and papers. According to Secomandi, the competitive setting encouraged students to thoroughly engage with opposing viewpoints, leading to a more complete understanding of the topic.

The mock trial method builds on previous collaborations between IDE and the Erasmus School of Law, including the 2024 event “Connecting Law, Design & Tech.” Secomandi has since submitted a proposal to the Open Education Fund to further develop the mock trial as a teaching model for addressing ethical dilemmas in technology and engineering education.