COMPARING DESIGNING ACROSS DIFFERENT DOMAINS: AN EXPLORATORY CASE STUDY
Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Reich, Y.
Author: Kan, Jeff Wai Tak; Gero, John S
Series: ICED
Section: Design Theory and Research Methodology
Page(s): 194-203
Abstract
This paper presents the results of comparing designing across different domains. It is claimed that designing involves ontological issues and processes that can be observed and appear across all domains in contrast to the belief that designing is unique to its domain. A case study of designing in three different domains, architectural design, software design, and mechanical design, was conducted. A concise qualitative analysis of the session is presented before reporting results from quantitative measurement of the design issues and processes in the three design sessions. We found differences in terms of design issues and processes in the three design sessions. The results from this case study support the claim that an ontologically based approach allows for comparisons of designing across multiple domains.