Milo TachenyCDes Atlas
A matrix of the AI tools that matter across the nine College of Design disciplines. Each entry records what the tool does, where it sits in the design process, what it plugs into, and what it costs. I built and maintain it as part of the College's strategic initiatives work, and it feeds the CDes AI Hub.
Portfolio recreation of the CDes AI Matrix. Descriptions and pricing come from vendor documentation as of August 2026. Statistics that came over from the working matrix without a citation are marked on their row as awaiting a source. The matrix is a survey of the field. It does not show what the College has adopted or licensed, or what data may go into any tool.
Nine disciplines, one shared question
Faculty and students across architecture, apparel, graphic, interior, landscape, product, retail, UX, and human factors design were all asking which AI tools are worth learning. The answers lived in scattered lists, vendor pages, and hallway conversations.
The Atlas puts those answers in one place, organized around the design process the College already teaches.
How it is built
- Matrix first, network second. Rows answer "what is this and when do I use it." The network answers the one question rows handle badly: what connects to what.
- No color coding by discipline. Nine hues cannot stay distinguishable for color-blind readers, so discipline is carried by label and position. Color marks state only.
- A stable map. The network layout is seeded, so it looks the same on every visit and placement issues can be reproduced.
- Honest sourcing. Uncited statistics are flagged in place instead of reading as verified.
- Kept current. A daily scan proposes new tools and pricing changes to a review queue. Nothing publishes without review.