The cognitive aspects of the engineering design activity – A literature survey

• This literature survey aims at representing the current research on the cognitive aspects of the design activity, with an emphasis on problem-solving processes. The study is based on the selection of about sixty papers and books on the subject. The principal parameters of the study were defined as follows: general topics of the works, objects of the works, cognitive approaches, research results, study methods. The findings from this survey are: Most of the studies concern design theory, and then design support and education; They focus mainly on the conceptual design phase; The foremost cognitive aspect studied is problem solving, but knowledge, imagery and memory are also considered; The results of the reviewed papers confirm the validity of prescriptive methods for the design process, but there is a felt need for acknowledgement of the design activity constraints induced by cognitive limitations; The methods employed in most experiments are based on verbal protocol analysis and sketch analysis. The most important findings of this survey are that research should be extended to new areas, such as: Research on the cognitive aspects of the designer in the embodiment and detail design phases; Implementation of the research findings in current design practice, to improve the design process; Research of the origins of expert knowledge.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

design process

detail design

design theory

embodiment design

engineering design

literature review

verbal protocol analysis

problem solving

sketch analysis

design activity

conceptual design

machine design

maskinkonstruktion

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)