A systematic review of protocol studies on conceptual design cognition: design as search and exploration

Hay, L., Duffy, A. H.B., McTeague, C., Pidgeon, L. M., Vuletic, T. and Grealy, M. (2017) A systematic review of protocol studies on conceptual design cognition: design as search and exploration. Design Science, 3, e10. (doi: 10.1017/dsj.2017.11)

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Abstract

This paper reports findings from the first systematic review of protocol studies focusing specifically on conceptual design cognition, aiming to answer the following research question: What is our current understanding of the cognitive processes involved in conceptual design tasks carried out by individual designers? We reviewed 47 studies on architectural design, engineering design and product design engineering. This paper reports 24 cognitive processes investigated in a subset of 33 studies aligning with two viewpoints on the nature of designing: (V1) design as search (10 processes, 41.7%); and (V2) design as exploration (14 processes, 58.3%). Studies on search focused on solution search and problem structuring, involving: long-term memory retrieval; working memory; operators and reasoning processes. Studies on exploration investigated: co-evolutionary design; visual reasoning; cognitive actions; and unexpected discovery and situated requirements invention. Overall, considerable conceptual and terminological differences were observed among the studies. Nonetheless, a common focus on memory, semantic, associative, visual perceptual and mental imagery processes was observed to an extent. We suggest three challenges for future research to advance the field: (i) developing general models/theories; (ii) testing protocol study findings using objective methods conducive to larger samples and (iii) developing a shared ontology of cognitive processes in design.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was supported by the United Kingdom’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (AHBD, MG, LH, LMP, grant number EP/M012123/1); and an EPSRC/University of Strathclyde Research Studentship (CM, grant number EP/M506643/1).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lyall, Dr Laura
Authors: Hay, L., Duffy, A. H.B., McTeague, C., Pidgeon, L. M., Vuletic, T., and Grealy, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Design Science
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
ISSN:2053-4701
ISSN (Online):2053-4701
Published Online:20 July 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Design Science 3: e10
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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