Design Fixation in Physical Modeling: An Investigation on the Role of Sunk Cost

Viswanathan, Vimal; Linsey, Julie

doi:10.1115/detc2011-47862

Cited by 54 publications

(56 citation statements)

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“…A more recent study shows that the design fixation associated with physical models can be explained using the cost (in terms of money, time or effort) sunk into the building process Linsey 2011, Viswanathan and. As designers spend more time, money or effort (cost) on solving a design problem, they tend to fixate more.…”

Section: Effects Of Physical Models In Design Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another explanation for the difference in the use of blocks and tires in the designs after testing is the Sunk Cost Effect (Kahneman and Tversky 1979, Arkes and Blumer 1985, Viswanathan and Linsey 2011. When the participants test their ideas after constructing the cars, they receive feedback about the undesirable features.…”

Section: Mitigation By Warning Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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A study on the role of physical models in the mitigation of design fixation

Viswanathan

Atilola

Esposito

et al. 2014

Journal of Engineering Design

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Designers implement a variety of models and representations during the design process, yet little is known about the cognitive impacts of various representations.This study focuses on how physical models can assist novices in mitigating design fixation to undesirable features. During idea generation, designers tend to fixate on examples they encounter or their own initial ideas. The first hypothesis states that designers tend to duplicate features of provided examples. The second hypothesis states that this fixation can be mitigated with appropriate warnings. The last hypothesis is that building and testing physical models can help designers in mitigating fixation. To investigate these theories, a quasi-experiment is conducted as Copying these flawed features creates more complicated and less effective designs.However, through the physical testing of their designs, participants identify and fix the design flaws. These results indicate that existing designs and experiences have the potential to limit innovation and that designers need to be trained with effective methods for mitigating design fixation. Building prototypes can help designers in identifying the flawed features and in reducing design fixation; hence the use of physical models in engineering design needs to be encouraged.

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Section: Effects Of Physical Models In Design Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mitigation By Warning Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

A study on the role of physical models in the mitigation of design fixation

Viswanathan

Atilola

Esposito

et al. 2014

Journal of Engineering Design

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For methods that require significant investment into one potential biological phenomenon by, for example, creating a functional or SBF model of it, there could be fixation due to sunk cost [45] or too much detail too early in ideation.…”

Section: Idea-inspire and Natural Language Approach To Biomimetic Desmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-Inspired Design: An Overview Investigating Open Questions From the Broader Field of Design-by-Analogy

Moreno

Yang

et al. 2014

Journal of Mechanical Design

122

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Bio-inspired design and the broader field of design-by-analogy have been the basis of numerous innovative designs throughout history; yet there remains much to be understood about these practices of design, their underlying cognitive mechanisms, and preferred ways in which to teach and support them. In this paper, we work to unify the broader design-by-analogy research literature with that of the bio-inspired design field, reviewing the current knowledge of designer cognition, the seminal supporting tools and methods for bio-inspired design, and postulating the future of bio-inspired design research from the larger design-by-analogy perspective. We examine seminal methods for supporting bio-inspired design, highlighting the areas well aligned with current findings in design-by-analogy cognition work and noting important areas for future research identified by the investigators responsible for these seminal tools and methods.Supplemental to the visions of these experts in bio-inspired design, we suggest additional projections for the future of the field, posing intriguing research questions to further unify the field of bio-inspired design with its broader resident field of design-by-analogy. INTRODUCTIONBio-inspired design is a cutting edge field of inquiry and practice, founded by thinkers such as Steele (bionics, 1950s), Schmitt (biomimetics, 1950s) RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Comparative Qualitative Research MethodFigure 1 depicts the comparative qualitative research methodology employed for analysis in this paper, defined by five steps: (1) examining the larger body of analogy literature and choosing a subset to identify cognitive mechanisms for design-by-analogy; (2) categorizing key findings from the analogy literature; (3) studying an existing set of seminal tools and methods for bioinspired design, and the principles and considerations that underlie them, (4) reviewing the literature that addresses the cognitive psychology of bio-inspired design, and (5) analyzing gaps in the literature, questions yet to be addressed, and the future of the field of bio-inspired design.Katherine Fu MD-14-1381 3 Examining and Reducing Analogy LiteratureWe began by considering the research findings of those who study analogy. Identifying and investigating hundreds of contributions, the literature included in the analysis of this paper was chosen based on whether the publication advanced empirical understanding of how humans, often designers, work with analogy. Papers not included were those presenting tools or methods for design-by-analogy, unless in testing them, they uncovered and reported underlying cognitive mechanisms of design-by-analogy. The goal of this step was to characterize the current state of scientific knowledge around analogy, both generally and with respect to engineering design, in order to create a context within which bio-inspired design and its future as a field of inquiry is and should be considered. Categorizing and Synthesizing Key Findings from Analogy LiteratureThe subset of the larger body of an...

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“…Designing is considered to be one of the most challenging and important human activity; it is complex, requires high intelligence and skills [1]. The effect of pictorial examples [2][3][4], example solutions and physical models [5][6][7] on imparting fixation in engineering idea generation process have been studied by many researchers. However, the use of previous designs can adversely impact the design process in the form of design fixation [3], a potentially limiting adherence to existing designs.…”

Section: Design Fixation; Design Skills; Fixation Group; Control Groupmentioning

confidence: 99%