IL DESIGN NAUTICO VERSO IL FUTURO. L’uso strategico dell’intelligenza artificiale a supporto del designer nella progettazione e nella sicurezza operativa

This doctoral thesis investigates the strategic integration of Artificial Intelligence into naval and nautical design processes, with particular attention to the transformation of the designer’s role in increasingly complex, data-driven and human-centred design environments. Starting from the limitations of traditional methodologies, such as the design spiral and the V-Model, the research proposes the paradigm of **Designer in the Loop**, in which AI does not replace the designer but acts as a cognitive partner capable of amplifying human creativity, decision-making and exploratory capacity. The study develops a theoretical and experimental framework structured around three main phases of the nautical design process: analysis, generation and validation. In the analysis phase, the research explores the use of affective computing and multimodal emotion recognition to support a deeper understanding of user and client requirements. Facial expression analysis, voice analysis, sentiment analysis and biometric sensing are considered as tools for identifying explicit and latent needs, translating emotional and behavioural data into design-relevant information. In the generation phase, the thesis examines the potential of generative AI, intelligent agents and AI-assisted 3D modelling to support the creation of alternative concepts and interactive design scenarios. In the validation phase, the research considers Digital Twins, Virtual Prototypes, CFD/FEM simulations and Extended Reality environments as tools for assessing performance, comfort, safety and user experience. The experimental part of the thesis includes the development of web applications, interview systems, chatbot and Voice AI prototypes, as well as multimodal tests conducted in educational, university and maritime simulation contexts. These applications are used to evaluate the potential of AI-based systems in collecting requirements, analysing emotional responses and supporting design decisions. The thesis also addresses the ethical and regulatory implications of emotion-based and AI-driven design, with reference to responsible design principles, privacy protection and the European AI Act. The main contribution of the research lies in the formalisation of a human-centred AI framework for nautical design, where technological innovation, emotional understanding and designer responsibility converge. The proposed approach opens new perspectives for more adaptive, empathetic and sustainable design processes in the naval and nautical sector.