Design Theories and Studies

A Sample of Publications include:

· Reich, Y. (1991), Design Knowledge Acquisition: Task Analysis and a Partial Implementation, Knowledge Acquisition, 3(3):237-254.
Contrary to views presented before 1990, this paper shows that by breaking up design tasks into smaller subtasks, computational support can be designed to aid the overall task.
(Zipped pdf; 273K, one figure missing)

· Reich, Y. (1992), The Theory Practice Problem of Technology, Tech. Rep. EDRC 12-51-92, Engineering Design Research Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
This is a long document, very different from the other papers. It has some history of CAE and design research, some philosophy, and some future directions connected to the n-dim project. It is relevant to quality management, knowledge management, and other practices that involve theory and practice in cultural context.

(Gzipped Postscript 110K; Zipped PDF, 1.47M)

Reich, Y., Konda, S., Levy, S. N., Monarch, I., and Subrahmanian, E. (1993), New roles for machine learning in design, Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, 8(3):165-181.
This paper is related to the topic of knowledge extraction from databases even if not a typical paper on the subject. This paper reviews the present way of using machine learning in design and criticize it as being restrictive. The underlying assumptions under present use are discussed and new ways in which machine learning can be used in design are discussed. The use of natural language processing (NLP) techniques is discussed as well as the use of multiple machine learning tools (multistrategy). The integration framework for all the techniques is, as you have already guessed ... n-dim. (Zipped pdf; 783K)

Reich, Y. and Fenves, S. J.(1995), A system that Learns to Design Cable-Stayed Bridges, Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 121(7):1090-1100.
This paper presents the most complete description of Bridger. (Note however that due to ASCE's limit on the number of words per paper [10,000] there are still details that were omitted.
(Postscript file, 408K; Zipped PDF file, 855K)

Reich, Y. and Fenves, S. J. (1991), The Formation and use of Abstract Concepts in Design, In Concept Formation: Knowledge and Experience in Unsupervised Learning, Fisher, D. H. and Pazzani, M. J. (eds.), pp. 323-353, Morgan Kaufmann, Los Altos, CA.
This paper puts forward the hypothesis that concept formation is critical for design. The ramification for machine learning in design is that concept formation techniques are expected to be more suitable than supervised techniques. ECOBWEB is presented as one concept formation system that acquires design concept for synthesis.
(Postscript file, 670K, almost final book version, 1.5 figure is missing)

Reich, Y. (1995), A Critical Review of General Design Theory, Research in Engineering Design, 7(1):1-18.
Over the last few decades, significant amount of research has been devoted to developing design theories (Hubka & Eder, 1988; Suh, 1984; Warfield, 90; Yoshikawa, 1981). A notable exception in the set of design theories is General Design Theory (GDT), developed by Yoshikawa and extended by Tomiyama and Yoshikawa, in that it is based on mathematical foundations. This study reviews the assumptions (axioms) and predictions (theorems) of GDT with respect to design and illustrate them with a simple example. The scope of GDT with respect to design, the guidelines it provides for building computer-aided design (CAD) systems and the possibility of implementing these guidelines are examined. The paper discusses these guidelines and some experimental implementation that embody some of them.
(Postscript, Zipped pdf; 356K)

Reich, Y., Konda, S. L., Levy, S. N., Monarch, I. A., and Subrahmanian, E. (1996), Varieties and Issues of Participation and Design, Design Studies, 17(2):165-180.
(Postscript, Zipped pdf; 170K)
Abstract: Participatory design is the antithesis to traditional design in which designers are expected to exhibit their expertise. The right to participate in design is often ignored and even when it is accepted, many obstacles including perceived pragmatic/economic deficiencies and organizational concerns impede participation. This paper criticizes the foundations of traditional design. It starts from the premise that it is the right of all affected by a design to have an active role in its development and that appropriate ways of exercising this right can lead to better designs. Subsequently, the paper elaborates on some properties of participation in various design disciplines and in particular in the context of architectural design and urban planning. The paper then presents an approach for participation founded on widening communication channels between participants and briefly discusses the potential of computer tools for supporting participatory design. Finally, the paper briefly relates participation and design to several popular concepts such as concurrent engineering, total quality management, and quality function deployment.

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Last modified: 5/5/2005 4:41:00 AM