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.
Boundaries of Operationality for Creative Design
Douglas, Fisher
Type:
Year:
2016
Editor:
Julie Linsey, Maria Yang, and Yukari Nagai
Author:
Series:
ICDC
ISBN:
978-1-904670-82-7
Abstract:
Consider a library of designs that are available for reuse, reconfiguration, and remixing by human and/or
AI designers. Rather than retaining only fully-implemented designs, the retention of incomplete, partially
specified designs provides opportunities for creative design refinement and flexible reuse. In particular,
we explore tree-structured designs, created by top-down and bottom-up strategies, for purposes of
creative design refinement. High-level design templates provide constraints, as do low-level components that are available for
reuse. Between high-level templates and low-level components, are mid-level design elements, which if
fully fleshed out, give no room for creativity, and if insufficiently fleshed out, design may default to
design from scratch. We adapt research in AI, on optimal levels of abstraction for purposes of
categorization and problem solving, to design, with an eye on designs that are novel, utile, and surprising.
Annotating links between design components help assess recyclability and assembly costs of designs.
AI designers. Rather than retaining only fully-implemented designs, the retention of incomplete, partially
specified designs provides opportunities for creative design refinement and flexible reuse. In particular,
we explore tree-structured designs, created by top-down and bottom-up strategies, for purposes of
creative design refinement. High-level design templates provide constraints, as do low-level components that are available for
reuse. Between high-level templates and low-level components, are mid-level design elements, which if
fully fleshed out, give no room for creativity, and if insufficiently fleshed out, design may default to
design from scratch. We adapt research in AI, on optimal levels of abstraction for purposes of
categorization and problem solving, to design, with an eye on designs that are novel, utile, and surprising.
Annotating links between design components help assess recyclability and assembly costs of designs.
Keywords:
