A structure for representing problem formulation in design

Mahmoud Dinar, Jami Shah, Pat Langley, Glen Hunt, Ellen Campana

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Much study has been done on many aspects of design. Although problem formulation is believed to play a major role in a creative design of high quality, it has gained less attention. In our larger study, we are investigating the role of problem formulation on design creativity. In order to conduct such studies, a formal representation of design problems is needed. In this paper, a taxonomy for representing the design problem space is proposed. We call this static representation the problem map. It can provide a basis for comparing how different designers perceive a problem and help demonstrate the co-evolution of problem and solution. Our preliminary study was based on the design of a model aircraft by an expert and two groups of novice designers. The examples of the problem maps showed that the expert had a richer set of attributes of design entities and relations among them, which the novices missed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationICED 11 - 18th International Conference on Engineering Design - Impacting Society Through Engineering Design
Pages392-401
Number of pages10
StatePublished - Dec 1 2011
Event18th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 11 - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: Aug 15 2011Aug 18 2011

Publication series

NameICED 11 - 18th International Conference on Engineering Design - Impacting Society Through Engineering Design
Volume6

Other

Other18th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 11
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period8/15/118/18/11

Keywords

  • Design taxonomy
  • Problem formulation
  • Problem maps
  • Protocol study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A structure for representing problem formulation in design'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this