Co-evolution of design tactics and CSCWD systems: Methodological circulation and the TATIN-PIC platform

DS 75-9: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED13), Design for Harmonies, Vol.9: Design Methods and Tools, Seoul, Korea, 19-22.08.2013

Year: 2013
Editor: Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author: Guerra, Andrea Luigi; Gidel, Thierry; Kendira, Atman; Vezzetti, Enrico; Jones, Alistair
Series: ICED
Institution: 1: Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France; 2: Politecnico di Torino, Italy
Page(s): 315-324
ISBN: 978-1-904670-52-0
ISSN: 2220-4334

Abstract

This paper proposes a design strategy and a Computer Supported Cooperative Work in Design (CSCWD) system, which have co-evolved together to meet the goal of improving the Preliminary Design Process (PDP). Because there is no consensus for a definition of PDP, here we define it as an evolutionary, iterative and heuristic process. Methodological Circulation is a design strategy where multidisciplinary design teams explore the solution space of a problem, while a project manager facilitates this heuristic and effectual exploration by determining the way forward through appropriate decision-making. Creating a computer support system for this design strategy requires considering 4 factors at the base of this co-evolutionary approach: the problem-solving cognitivist posture, the dynamic of the preliminary design activities, the nature of collaboration, and the composition of the design group and management. We present how these factors have mutually influenced our CSCWD system called TATIN-PIC and the MC. We present the preliminary results of ethnographic observations of design teams performing project planning within the TATIN-PIC environment and a traditional designer's environment.

Keywords: Design methodology, early design phases, collaborative design, methodological circulation, computer supported cooperative work in design

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