Design Theory and Methodology

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Design Theory and Methodology
Past, Present and Future

• Dr. WJ (Chris) Zhang
• Professor
• University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• Email Chris.Zhang_at_Usask.Ca

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Problem
What is problem today with Design Theory and
Methodology (DTM)
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Problem
- FBS design model
- Meta design model
- Systematic design
- Axiomatic design theory
- Modular design
- Platform design
- Design for X
- Adaptable design
- Design for Adaptability
- Product family design
- Design for Reuse
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Problem
Design requirement To improve the clarity of
the camera to a one grade
Proposed solution principle use of modular design
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Definition Basic Concept
Need - functional - ergonomic - aesthetic
- Design - Design process - Model - Design
model - Design process model
Structure - frame, link, join, surface texture
and color, curve
Constraint - quality, time, cost -
sustainability - reliability, etc.
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Definition Basic Concept

• Design Relativity Principle
• No absolutely good design
• Good design depends on needs and constraints

• Design Approach Relativity Principle
• No absolutely good design approach
• Design approach synthesis see the best design
  approach to your needs

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Definition Basic Concept
Design Individualism Principle Convergence
Divergence Function ---
Ergonomics --- Aesthetics
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Definition Basic Concept
Types of components
Architecture Configuration A-product
Assembly at the type level
Assembly at the dimensional level
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Architecture
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Design Approach Analysis
- FBS design model
- Systematic design
- Meta design model
- Axiomatic design theory
Robust design
- Modular design
- Platform design
- Design for X
- Adaptable design
- Design for Adaptability
- Product family design
- Design for Reuse
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Design Approach Analysis

• Systematic design methodology
• Function design (Divide and conquer)
• Match physical entity
• The above two processes are uncoupled
• Main function and auxiliary function
• General function and specific function

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Design Approach Analysis
Objects in one module are closely related to each
other but have less relations with objects
outside that module

• Modular design (Architecture design)
• Modules
• Interfaces

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Design Approach Analysis

• Axiomatic design theory
• Axiom 1 Functional independency
• Axiom 2 Information content

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S1Horizontally hung door
Hinge
FR1Provide access to items stored in the
refrigerator FR2Minimize energy loss
S1Vertically hung door S2Thermal insulation
material in the door
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Design Approach Analysis
Something that can be shared
Product family design Chair various types
of chairs design target is a family of chairs
Product platform design Chair and Table two
different families -gt Platform stresses a common
module that both chair and table can make use of
it to construct their own
Difference between two lies in the scope of
sharing
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Design Approach Analysis

• Design bus and adaptable design
• Further beyond platform-based design gt saying
  more scopes
• Individual -gt Family -gt Platform -gt Super
  platform -gt convergent to one

God or God product or Monkey King
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Design Approach Analysis
The sense of adaptability and reusability
Car
Bike
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Design Approach Analysis
Microsoft window, robotic studio may not happen
in general products such as car and bike
Human nature is divergent and individualism
Desire in manufacturing to pursue Monkey King
paradigm needs to be cooled down
Business or Enterprise system is thus divergent
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Design Approach Analysis
Common goal Adaptive to a new functional
requirement and / or a constraint
- Modular design - Family - Platform - Bus
Difference how to do ?
What
- Self-maintenance design - Function sharing
design - Component redundant design
If a component is damaged, how to keep an
alternative function
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Design Approach Analysis

• AI-based design
• Meta-model
• Function-Behavior-Structure (FBS)
• Prototype-based

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Design Approach Analysis
FCBPSS Framework
Lin, Y and Zhang, WJ, 2004. Towards a novel
interface design framework function-behavior-stat
e paradigm, International Journal of Human
Computer Studies, Vol. 61, No. 3, pp. 259-297.
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Design Approach Analysis

• Conflict among design approaches
• Axiomatic Design Theory (ADT) Modular Design
  (Family, Platform, ..., but NOT component
  redundant design)
• ADT Systematic Design Approach

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Design Approach Analysis

• Complement among design approaches
• Robust design complements ADT
• Robust design complements systematic design
  approach

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Design Approach Synthesis
Problem Statement Given an enterprise or
business, what design approach or approaches
should be chosen?
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Design Approach Synthesis
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Design Approach Synthesis
Step 1 Characterization of each design approach
over the TCQ framework. For example, modular
design -gt T? C? Q? DAC (TCQ). Step 2
Business requirement is represented over the TCQ
framework. For example, car manufacturer -gt T?
C? Q? BC (TCQ). Step 3 Match BC to one or
more DAC
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Design Approach Synthesis
The above approach can be equally used for design
education. Institution requirement on design
education. IC (Institution Characterization)
BC DKC (Design knowledge characterization with
focus on knowledge to reduce time, reduce
delivery time, reduce cost) DAC
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Designers Behavior
Products
Current paradigm of design research design
automation -gt replace human designer
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Designers Behavior
New paradigm human-centered Human designers (HD)
Design automation (DA) together to complete a
design task

• Designer (human)
• Design tool (machine)
• Human Assistive System (HAS)

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Designers Behavior

• Designer (human)
• Design tool (machine)
• Human Assistive System (HAS)

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Conclusion Future Work

• Dozen design approaches or paradigms appear in
  the last three decades.
• Some are in conflict and some are in
  complementary.
• Some are related such that one is a more generic
  than others.

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Conclusion Future Work

• Modular design is a generic one upon which
  specialized ones such as family-based design,
  etc., are proposed yet they may turn out to be
  not realistic and more seriously, they may turn
  to be disastrous if not proper in use (monkey
  king, superman, etc.)
• The TCQ framework is conceptually promising, as
  it captures a naturalism of design in the context
  of manufacturing business

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Conclusion Future Work

• A need of thorough study of characterization of
  design approaches over the TCQ framework such
  that the structural nature of these design
  approaches may need to be examined in relation to
  TCQ.
• A need of thorough study of characterization of
  business over the TCQ framework for example,
  some business may not care about adaptive
  features of their products.

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Conclusion Future Work
8. Designers cognition in design 9. Designer
teams cognition in design