A FRAMEWORK FOR COMPARING DESIGN MODELLING APPROACHES ACROSS DISCIPLINES
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Reich, Y.
Author: Eisenbart, Boris; Gericke, Kilian; Blessing, Luciënne
Series: ICED
Section: Design Theory and Research Methodology
Page(s): 344-355
Abstract
Design models are important means for the representation of information in product development processes. Designers use design models to visualise and communicate their ideas to other members of a design team, the project manager or a costumer. Communication through design models between experts from different domains is often hindered by different terminology and different ways of modelling information. Potential consequences are design flaws, which may lead to time-consuming iterations, project failure and – if undetected – to problems during production or use.
In order to enhance the communication through design models across domains, and to address the mentioned problems, a basic understanding of similarities as well as differences between modelling approaches needs to be established. For that purpose, this paper discusses different design states which represent a distinct level of available information in the development process. They are derived through comparing different design models proposed in literature and provide the basis for a detailed comparison of modelling approaches across domains. Further, first insights into different ways of modelling are discussed.
Keywords: INTERDISCIPLINARY DESIGN; DESIGN STATES; DESIGN MODELS; DESIGN METHODOLOGY