RATIONALE

"Course organization"


The course consists of a highly structured set of readings. 

It is mostly organized chronologically, as researchers have moved from
studying routine and parametric design, to studying configuration, to
learning in design, to creative design, and to a variety of different
supporting techniques.  

As the course progresses the topics get less focused on a single
topic, more theoretical, and less about implementation of complete
systems.  This is how the field has progressed.

However, as areas overlap, and papers are about more than one topic,
there is no 'correct' order, and compromises have been made. 

A careful tradeoff has been made between more recent papers where more
background knowledge might be needed, and older papers that make more
fundamental contributions but require less background knowledge.
Where possible, the most representative and readable papers have been
chosen.

The set of introductory readings is very comprehensive, and students
will feel as if they've been dropped into the deep end.  The idea
though is an initial quick immersion, with gradual explanation during
the rest of the course.