A domain-independent descriptive design model and its application to structured reflection on design processes

Domain-independent models of the design process are an important means for facilitating interdisciplinary communication and for supporting multidisciplinary design. Many so-called domain-independent models are, however, not really domain independent. We state that to be domain independent, the model...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Research in engineering design Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 147 - 173
Main Authors:	Reymen, I. M. M. J., Hammer, D. K., Kroes, P. A., van Aken, J. E., Dorst, C. H., Bax, M. F. T., Basten, T.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	New York Springer Nature B.V 01-04-2006
Subjects:	Design Reflection Supports
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Domain-independent models of the design process are an important means for facilitating interdisciplinary communication and for supporting multidisciplinary design. Many so-called domain-independent models are, however, not really domain independent. We state that to be domain independent, the models must abstract from domain-specific aspects, be based on the study of several design disciplines, and be useful for many design disciplines and for multidisciplinary design teams. This paper presents a domain-independent descriptive design model that is developed by studying similarities and differences between design processes in three design disciplines and which is based on the general theory of state-transition systems. The main concepts of the descriptive model are a design situation and a design activity. The descriptive model is applied in a domain-independent prescriptive model that supports designers with structured reflection on a design process; reflection provides an important possibility in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of design processes.
ISSN:	0934-9839 1435-6066
DOI:	10.1007/s00163-006-0011-9