What designers need from agentic AI: case of circularity and CMF design

Paper i proceeding, 2026

Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) designers face rising circularity demands but lack tools that combine reliable data, traceable reasoning and creative control. This paper reports a case study with automotive CMF designers, identifying pain points in data access, evaluation of circular options, authorship and trust in AI. We propose design requirements and a conceptual model for agentic AI systems that support circular CMF work while preserving designer agency, accountability, and confidence in material decisions.