The following text is a summary of the course 'Methods and Techniques
for Design', part of the SAI program 'Process and Product Design' of TU/e,
taught by Dr. Kees van Overveld in April 2014.
The motivator of Research is the curiosity for valid knowledge about a determined subject, in which a single, unique and reproducible answer is attained. The progress of research is based on observation.
The motivator of Research is the curiosity for valid knowledge about a determined subject, in which a single, unique and reproducible answer is attained. The progress of research is based on observation.
Design however arises from the need of
value, from the absence of something in order to produce a certain solution
from a multiple variety of them. The progress of design is due to a process of
decision making that will determine the characteristics and properties of the
artefact to be designed. The following figure shows the evolution of the
knowledge of AtbD and the impact of the decisions with respect to time:
As can be deduced from this figure, the most
important decisions are based on the least knowledge available. Because of
this, it is clear that a systematic approach to decision making would prove a
very useful and time-saving tool in order to achieve a successful design. With
this purpose we will take a closer look on the anatomy of decision making and the
definition of design (understood from an engineering viewpoint).
Anatomy of Decision
Making
A first stage called Divergence (I), which consists of the generation of plausible ideas
for the design, is followed by a stage of Convergence
(II), where with a critical sense the weakest ideas are disregarded. When
multiple probable solutions still remain at the end of this stage, a selection
based on intuition is made. The first two stages give answer to what is going to be designed. In the
next stage (III), the Detailing of the optimal idea for design is
considered. This stage consists again of multiple phases of divergence and
convergence to define how is the artefact brought to existence.
In his study of mental attitudes, Edward de Bono presented the theory of
six thinking hats or mental habits (each assigned to a colour) which are
alternatively desirable as shown in the figure above during each stage of
decision making:
Design is the making of decisions such that Value for stakeholders increases
When making a design of a concept, the values
of certain properties of this concept have to be assigned in order to maximize
the desired properties associated to the Value
(worth) of that concept. That is, if we say that the properties whose values are chosen directly by the
designer belong to a category I, and we group properties which help prioritize
one concept over another (in regards to the Value they provide) in category II,
we can synthesize the definition of design to a mathematical functionality
between properties:
However, there are properties which the
designer must assume are given to him and has no freedom to manipulate, these
fall into category III. Moreover, there are properties which are not directly
fixed by the designer, nor given by assumptions, nor determine the Value of the concept, but interrelate
properties from one category to another in order to establish the dependency
(category IV). The following figure illustrates these ideas:
Lastly, when the model of design is built, particularly
when more than one category II properties exist, it might be difficult to
decide on the optimal solution (assignment of values to category I properties).
Algorithmic optimization proves in many cases unrealistic, therefore a Pareto
graph is plotted to select the dominant solution which provides the most Value.
This representation is repeated iteratively in order to move the Pareto front
to better values and consequently reach better designs.
Carlos Arnaiz.
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