In design methodology there are a number of approaches for describing
products functionally. In all of these approaches the concept of
function is advanced as a fundamental one to engineering, and all
these approaches have proved their viability by achieving important
results. The current state in engineering concerning functional
descriptions is therefore characterised by the co-existence of various
approaches among design methodologists to defining function, and by an
ongoing confusion among practitioners about how to apply functional
descriptions. This state seems not to be an intermediate phase that
will be replaced quickly by one in which more clarity is achieved; but
rather it seems to be one that is relatively stable, with historical
roots and with various advantages to engineering.
This fact that multiple approaches towards functional description are
possible and are successful, is itself already notable enough to call
for analysis and explanation. It also has led within design
methodology to a sort of agreement to disagree, and not to discuss the
pros and cons of particular approaches. Moreover it raises questions
of how to manage the co-existence of these approaches towards function
in engineering. Finally it has led to an ongoing confusion about the
use of this concept among practitioners.
With this special issue we aim to explore this current state of
co-existing approaches towards functional descriptions in engineering,
and collect a basis for discussing and assessing it within the
engineering design community at large. Rather than authors
advocating their personal views in isolation, we want to encourage a
dialogue between different views on function. Design methodology
research prospers with this co-existence, so it may eventually be the
way the discipline is, raising more meta-methodological questions
about how the functional descriptions that are generated by the
different approaches should be related, in communication between
design teams for example, about how to archive functional structures of
past design, and about how functional descriptions should be taught at
schools and universities, and applied in research and industry.
The special issue starts with three position papers that approach the
topic of co-existing functional descriptions from a methodological,
historical and practitioners perspective. These position papers will
be made available for authors who wish to contribute to the special
issue. We welcome papers in which this current state is assessed and
in which visions are developed about the possibilities and
impossibilities for functional descriptions in the near future of
engineering. The position papers describe and interpret the current
co-existence of different approaches towards functions, and we welcome
response papers that develop this description and interpretation, or
provide for alternatives. Individual approaches towards functions are
expected to be discussed in response papers, yet we welcome papers in
which some distance is maintained from individual approaches in favour
of a focus on the more general challenge to engineering: i.e., how it
should proceed with using and promoting functional descriptions.
Length:
Contributions will be not more than 8 pages long in the
AI EDAM format. A paper with only text and a length of 6500 words
may fit that maximum; to include elements like tables and figures, the
word count should be adjusted accordingly.
The position papers:
- From a methodological perspective: Pieter Vermaas
- From a historically perspective: Ashok Goel et al.
- From a practitioner's perspective: Claudia Eckert et al.
These papers will be made available in the summer of 2011, at a
meeting during the ICED conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, and can then
be obtained when expressing interest to contribute with the guest
editors.
Review, feedback and discussion:
Authors are invited to submit names of suitable reviewers, such that
discussions aimed at developing the paper may be integrated in the
review phase.
In addition authors are invited to a workshop to be held in the summer
of 2012 (venue will be announced in due time). At this workshop draft
papers can be presented and discussed.
All submissions will be anonymously reviewed by at least three
reviewers. The selection for publication will be made on the basis of
these reviews.
Information about the format and style required for
AIEDAM papers can be found at
www.cs.wpi.edu/~aiedam/Instructions/.
Note that all enquiries and submissions for special issues
go to the Guest Editors, and not to the Editor in Chief.
Important dates:
August 15-19 2011 kickoff meeting at ICED 2011 conference
October 1 2011 deadline for authors to express interest in contributing
January 1 2012 deadline for authors to submit first drafts of papers
April 15 2012 invitations go out to authors to submit second drafts of their papers
June 15 2012 deadline for authors to submit second drafts of their papers
Summer 2012 workshop(s) for presenting and discussing papers
October 2012 invitations go out to authors to submit final drafts of their papers
December 1 2012 deadline for authors to submit final drafts of their papers
Guest editors:
Dr. Pieter Vermaas
Department of Philosophy
Delft University of Technology
The Netherlands
Email: p.e.vermaas @ tudelft.nl
Dr. Claudia Eckert
The Design Group
The Open University
United Kingdom
Email: c.m.eckert @ open.ac.uk
