Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
ON THE SUPERIORITY OF OPPORTUNISTIC DESIGN STRATEGIES DURING EARLY EMBODIMENT DESIGN
Bender, B.; Blessing ,L.
Type:
Year:
2004
Editor:
Marjanovic D.
Author:
Section:
DESIGN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Page(s):
117 - 122
Abstract:
The prescriptive tradition of German Design Methodology has been challenged by the results of empirical research showing that strict hierarchical approaches can hardly be found in real design processes. Thus, many authors come up with proposals of more flexible procedures. But do these strategies enhance design performance? To answer this question, we investigated individual design procedures of N=71 engineering design students to determine the applicability of Design Methodology in early design stages. We could approve that an opportunistic and associative design procedure is vast superior to a strict hierarchical approach and seems to optimal to cope with the complexity of design problems and to reduce ‘cognitive load’ in problem solving.
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