ISSUE DRIVEN ANALYSIS OF AN EXISTING PRODUCT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ABSTRACTION
DS 60: Proceedings of DESIGN 2010, the 11th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Year: 2010
Editor: Marjanovic D., Storga M., Pavkovic N., Bojcetic N.
Author: Eckert, C. M.; Alink, T.; Albers, A.
Section: DESIGN METHODS
Page(s): 673-682
Abstract
This paper analysis how one designer approached the analysis of an existing product, He was part of an experiment with 20 engineers, who were given a hydraulic pump and ask to summarise their findings in a function tree. He produced a comparatively systematic and complete analyses with comprehensive drawings. He started by indentifying abstract functions, then analyse the role of components and then match the two. In doing so he was looking at the product essentially at three different levels of abstraction: the whole product a sub-system level and a single element level, e.g. sealing rings. He changed the level of abstraction as he came across particular issues or problems in his understanding.
Keywords: product analysis, functional product models, design cognition