Maggie Mustaklem’s project Design, Interrupted explores how algorithms “might be ‘interrupting’ the process of searching for images”, a “critical early stage of the design process”.

She told Dezeen that “everyday AI” used by Instagram and Pinterest result in “algorithmic flattening”, but most discourse around social media and AI still focuses on political impact rather than creative impact.

As part of her research, Ms Mustaklem organised a workshop where participants were given a design prompt and asked to undertake research using their choice of print publications or the internet.

Tasked with finding ideas for a Spanish-style villa, three participants found images of Britney Spear’s former home in Los Angeles, California — suggesting a bias towards English-language or celebrity content.

Ms Mustaklem said: “It’s quite powerful that’s it’s not actually Spanish materials or construction methods or Spanish national identity coming through, it’s really climate-controlled luxury and giant US interiors.

“That is a big difference, especially if you’re thinking about what ends up being designed based on those reference images.”