An `AI in Design' View of Design

Methodology

The characterization of design problem solving cannot be reduced to just the particular method used. Many other issues are critical: knowing how and where to look for a design solution; what types of reasoning to use; and what goals to pursue besides that of finding a solution. Therefore, a description of the methodology brings together a set of diverse aspects concerned with how the system builds, and possibly improves, a solution to a design problem.

What type of problem-solving method(s) does the system use? How is the development of the design guided and controlled? In what kind of spaces is the reasoning carried out? Characterize the direction of the design developing process. Is the design process based on iterative refinement? Does the design process attempt to mirror specific human design processes? On what pattern of analysis and synthesis methods does the system rely? Does the system use decomposition and recomposition methods? Does the system use qualitative reasoning methods? Does the system use constraints? What kind of interactions influence the design process and in what way? Is any contextual information used to guide the design process? Does the system provide any internal critiquing, evaluation, estimation, or advising methods? Does the system use any simulation techniques as part of the design process? Does the system have any failure handling features? Can any conflicts occur? Does the system attempt to optimize the design from some point of view? Are there any explanation facilities provided for the decisions taken by the system? Is the user included in the design process? In what way? Does the design method create a design from a strictly functional point of view, or does it consider other aspects? Does the system do any learning, and, if so, what is learned?

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