DRS2012 Bangkok Proceedings Vol 4 - Design Research Society

2076 Conference Proceedings
Heuristic Use in Different Types of Design Tasks
Design Task Designer Number of concepts Number of unique concepts
Redesign 1 6 2
2 6 5
3 5 1
Novel Design 4 6 6
5 4 4
6 4 3
Total 31 21
Table 1
Number of concepts generated by each participant
Next, the key features were identified in the concepts according to user-interaction, form
and function. These served as the criteria for describing the uniqueness or diversity of the
concepts. For example, for the first task, design solutions could be either held in hand or
placed on the table to achieve the function of squeezing the lemon. For the second task,
solutions could direct the sunlight using mirrors, maintain heat by creating a closed
product with a clear lid (to capture sunlight), use a magnifying glass to direct the sunlight,
or use an insulated box to maintain the heat. Other solutions added straps so the product
could be carried by the user, or converted into a foldable container for easy transport.
Each of these solutions would be counted as distinct, unique concepts in the design
space.
The redesign task was more constrained in that less time was given to the participants,
and an initial visual representation of the form was provided. The designers started
generating concepts with the given form, which resulted in less variation among the
concepts. The novel design task, on the other hand, was limited in the technical
information provided, which may have narrowed the range of options to achieve the
functions defined in the design problem.
Heuristic use
The main focus of this study was to document how designers used heuristics to explore
the design space; that is, how they made transitions to new concepts in the ideation
stage, and how they created relationships within the design elements in each concept.
Table 2 presents Design Heuristics observed locally (within each concept) in the
concepts generated in both experimental setting, and how many times they were seen.
Design Heuristics Observed Locally
Redesign
Task
1
Attach independent functional components within the
product
14 4
2 Align components around a central, main function 11 0
3 Refocus on the core function of the product 9 2
4
Create modular units by repeating, substituting, or
splitting components
7 3
5 Elevate or lower product base 8 2
6 Split or divide surfaces into components 6 2
7
Hollow out inner space for added component
placement
7 0
8 Change where or how product will be used 4 2
9 Cover / Form Shell / Wrap surface for other use 2 3
10
Fold product parts with hinges, bends, or creases to
condense size
1 4
11
Nest (Hide / Collapse / Flatten) elements within each
other
3 2
Novel Design
Task