STUDY OF THE DESIGNER’S COGNITIVE PROCESSES DURING THE LATER PHASES OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS
DS 32: Proceedings of DESIGN 2004, the 8th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Year: 2004
Editor: Marjanovic D.
Author: Motte, D.; Andersson, P.-E.; Bjärnemo, R.
Section: DESIGN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Page(s): 421 - 428
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have been focusing on the cognitive abilities and limitations of the designer during the design process, yet thus far only for the conceptual design phase. This paper deals with the embodiment design and detail design phases. We focus on the problem-solving process - strategies and basic steps - around the synthesis activity. Six experiments have been carried out, applying the verbal protocol analysis method as adapted to embodiment design and detail design. The results of this study show the specificities of the problem-solving activities of the later phases of the design process.
Keywords: cognitive process, problem solving process, embodiment design, detail design