Human–AI collaboration in creative design represents one of the most profound transformations in contemporary knowledge work, reshaping how creativity is understood, practiced, and evaluated. Drawing strictly on foundational and contemporary scholarship in creativity studies, design research, and artificial intelligence, this article develops a comprehensive theoretical and empirical examination of cognitive synergy between humans and AI systems in creative design contexts. The study synthesizes psychological theories of creativity, sociocultural models of creative production, and human-centered AI frameworks to investigate how agency, authorship, and responsibility are negotiated in co-creative systems. Using a qualitative, theory-driven methodology grounded in interpretive analysis of existing conceptual frameworks and documented design practices, the article explores how AI systems function not merely as tools but as cognitive partners that shape ideation, exploration, and evaluation processes. The results reveal that cognitive synergy emerges through dynamic interaction patterns characterized by distributed cognition, iterative sensemaking, and negotiated control. However, these benefits coexist with tensions surrounding attribution of creative credit, ethical responsibility, and power asymmetries embedded in algorithmic systems. The discussion situates these findings within broader debates on responsible AI, the future of creative labor, and the evolving role of designers in socio-technical ecosystems. By articulating a nuanced framework for understanding human–AI creative collaboration, the article contributes to theory, practice, and policy, offering a foundation for designing AI systems that enhance human creativity while preserving autonomy, accountability, and cultural meaning.
