The CAHDD™ TechRatio™ philosophy was created to bring transparency and trust to all forms of human creativity and innovation. Its principles apply far beyond art and design—to engineering, architecture, music, medicine, education, research, product development, writing, entertainment, and countless other disciplines. Many of these professions already feel the influence of technology and automation, while others will encounter it in ways not yet fully understood. The goal of CAHDD™ is to provide a shared language for expressing how humans and technology collaborate across every creative and technical domain, allowing each field to clearly communicate the balance of human authorship and technological assistance in its work.
The CAHDD™ framework recognizes that technology has become inseparable from creation and problem-solving. Architects use parametric design tools that explore forms once impossible to draw by hand. Engineers run automated simulations that help them refine complex systems. Musicians compose through hybrid digital setups that merge human performance with algorithmic harmony. Writers and educators rely on digital tools to analyze, summarize, and teach with greater clarity. Even in medicine, AI is helping visualize anatomy, simulate surgeries, and interpret data at scales no human could manage alone. Across all of these professions, CAHDD™ provides a way to express the degree of human versus technological contribution without judgment—simply as a transparent measure of process.
The CAHDD™ TechRatio™ framework applies to every field where humans and technology intersect. Below are domain-specific interpretations showing how the same seven stages (0–X) manifest across creative and technical professions—from art and architecture to music, film, education, and beyond. These examples evolve as tools and workflows change, and we welcome community input to refine and expand them over time.
Index of Professions:
• Visual Arts & Illustration
• Architecture & Design
• Music & Audio Production
• Writing & Literature
• Film, Animation & Game Design
• Education & Research
• Engineering & Technical Design
• Product & Fashion Design
• Medical & Scientific Visualization
• Marketing, Media & Communication
• Crafts, Makers & Artisans
• Performing Arts (Acting, Dance, Stage)
Visual Arts & Illustration
Stage 0 – Traditional media only. Hand-drawn, painted, or sculpted work without any digital or automated tools.
Stage 1 – Fully digital artwork under human control using standard design software.
Stage 2 – Use of scripts, filters, or automation plugins while maintaining full creative direction.
Stage 3 – AI or software suggestions for composition, color, or lighting used under human guidance.
Stage 4 – AI or generative systems produce large portions of the image, refined and composited by the artist.
Stage 5 – AI creates nearly the entire image or sequence, artist curates or performs post-production adjustments.
Stage X – Fully autonomous image generation without meaningful human direction.
Architecture & Design
Stage 0 – Hand sketches or physical models produced entirely by humans.
Stage 1 – CAD or 3D modeling software used manually without automation.
Stage 2 – Parametric or scripted modeling under human direction.
Stage 3 – AI or algorithmic tools assisting with layout, optimization, or material study.
Stage 4 – Generative design producing structures or concepts, refined and approved by the designer.
Stage 5 – AI produces full building forms or site plans with minimal human revision.
Stage X – Automated design output with no direct human authorship or oversight.
Music & Audio Production
Stage 0 – Acoustic or analog performance recorded without automation.
Stage 1 – Digital recording and editing tools used by the musician.
Stage 2 – Plugin-based or scripted automation under human control.
Stage 3 – AI-assisted composition, arrangement, or mastering suggestions refined by the artist.
Stage 4 – AI generates full musical sections that the musician edits or overlays.
Stage 5 – AI creates entire compositions; human provides quality control or curation.
Stage X – Fully automated generative music with no human input.
Writing & Literature
Stage 0 – Handwritten or manually typed work without digital assistance.
Stage 1 – Digital writing tools used only for convenience and formatting.
Stage 2 – Grammar and style automation, still fully human-directed.
Stage 3 – AI suggestion tools assist with phrasing or summarization under editorial control.
Stage 4 – AI generates large sections of content, human edits and polishes.
Stage 5 – AI authors most text, human curates or approves.
Stage X – Fully autonomous generative writing without meaningful human authorship.
Film, Animation & Game Design
Stage 0 – Traditional hand-drawn animation, live-action film, or analog processes.
Stage 1 – Digital production pipelines fully human-driven.
Stage 2 – Automated rendering, motion capture, or rigging controlled by artists.
Stage 3 – AI assists with lighting, compositing, or motion interpolation.
Stage 4 – AI generates scenes or sequences refined by editors.
Stage 5 – AI builds full productions or levels, humans finalize.
Stage X – Fully autonomous generation of visual media.
Education & Research
Stage 0 – Human-taught instruction, fully analog delivery.
Stage 1 – Digital presentation tools used manually.
Stage 2 – Automated grading, formatting, or slide generation under human control.
Stage 3 – AI-assisted tutoring or research summarization guided by educators.
Stage 4 – AI develops lesson materials, educators curate and contextualize.
Stage 5 – AI handles majority of instruction or analysis; human oversight remains.
Stage X – Autonomous knowledge delivery or data interpretation with no human involvement.
Engineering & Technical Design
Stage 0 – Manual drafting, physical prototyping.
Stage 1 – CAD or simulation tools operated directly by engineers.
Stage 2 – Automated calculation, simulation, or optimization scripts.
Stage 3 – AI proposes design optimizations, materials, or tolerances under review.
Stage 4 – Generative design creates prototypes refined by humans.
Stage 5 – AI designs full systems; engineers validate output.
Stage X – Fully autonomous engineering design with no human input.
Product & Fashion Design
Stage 0 – Manual sketching or hand tailoring.
Stage 1 – Digital design software operated by human designer.
Stage 2 – Pattern automation, digital prototyping, or parametric scaling.
Stage 3 – AI generates colorways, patterns, or silhouettes for refinement.
Stage 4 – AI develops full designs reviewed and modified by human.
Stage 5 – AI drives the majority of creative process; human acts as brand curator.
Stage X – Fully AI-generated product or collection.
Medical & Scientific Visualization
Stage 0 – Hand-drawn diagrams or traditional illustration.
Stage 1 – Digital modeling and visualization by human specialists.
Stage 2 – Automated rendering, measurement, or simulation under supervision.
Stage 3 – AI aids in segmentation, reconstruction, or annotation.
Stage 4 – AI generates full models or visualizations refined by specialists.
Stage 5 – AI generates and labels full datasets; human validation only.
Stage X – Fully autonomous simulation or visualization.
Marketing, Media & Communication
Stage 0 – Hand-crafted or analog campaigns.
Stage 1 – Digital marketing or layout software operated manually.
Stage 2 – Automation for formatting, scheduling, or analytics under control.
Stage 3 – AI suggestions for targeting, headlines, or visual layout.
Stage 4 – AI generates majority of assets, humans select and refine.
Stage 5 – AI executes entire campaign, human supervises output.
Stage X – Fully autonomous marketing or content delivery.
Crafts, Makers & Artisans
Stage 0 – Fully handmade craftsmanship.
Stage 1 – Use of power tools or digital measuring aids.
Stage 2 – CNC or laser cutting under human control.
Stage 3 – AI-aided design planning or material layout suggestions.
Stage 4 – Automated fabrication from AI-generated plans refined by maker.
Stage 5 – Robotic fabrication with minimal human setup.
Stage X – Fully autonomous fabrication or production.
Performing Arts (Acting, Dance, Stage)
Stage 0 – Fully live, human performance.
Stage 1 – Digital lighting, sound, or camera systems under human control.
Stage 2 – Choreography or direction using motion capture or automation.
Stage 3 – AI-generated lighting cues, choreography suggestions, or virtual scene assists.
Stage 4 – Virtual actors or AI avatars guided by human performers or directors.
Stage 5 – AI controls performance, voice, or movement with human supervision.
Stage X – Fully synthetic performance or digital actor autonomy.
In Closing:
The CAHDD™ TechRatio™ framework is designed to evolve with technology and community participation. Each domain adapts these stages to reflect its own creative and technical realities. The framework is flexible, open, and continuously evolving. We recognize that no single organization can define every nuance of creative and technical work, which is why the CAHDD™ initiative invites participation from practitioners, educators, researchers, and industry professionals alike. Real-world experience and honest insight are essential for keeping this system relevant and truthful. We encourage professionals across all fields to contribute refinements, share examples, and help ensure that the CAHDD™ TechRatio™ remains transparent, accurate, and human-centered as the world continues to innovate.