Solution driven versus problem driven design: strategies and outcomes

Abstract

Data from protocol studies of nine experienced industrial designers, performing the same task, were analysed to develop an expertise model of the product design process. The protocol data and the expertise model were used to identify four different cognitive strategies employed by the designers: problem driven, solution driven, information driven, and knowledge driven design strategies. These strategies were then related to task outcomes such as solution quality and creativity, and to process aspects such as iterative activity. The different strategies appear not to be related to overall solution quality in any straightforward manner. Designers using a solution driven strategy tended to have lower overall solution quality scores but higher creativity scores. Designers using a problem driven design strategy tended to produce the best results in terms of the balance of both overall solution quality and creativity. Keywords: Cognitive strategies, design process, protocol studiesIn concluding a recent review article on expertise in design, Cross (2004) suggested that 'expert designers appear to be "ill-behaved" problem solvers', especially in respect of their focus on solution generation, rather than problem analysis. This aspect of design cognition has been observed many times, and can be traced back to Lawson's (1979) formalised problem solving experiments with science and architecture students, from which he categorised their problem solving strategies as either 'problem focused' or 'solution focused', and claimed the latter as being more characteristic of design-based problem solving.The recent focus of studies in design cognition has been through the use of protocol studies (Cross, Christiaans and Dorst, 1996). Many studies have relied on experiments and observations with student designers, rather than experienced, practising designers possessing more mature cognitive strategies. However, Dorst (1997) provided a study of design processes derived from protocol studies of experienced industrial designers, and Dorst and Cross (2001) related these to a problem-solution co-evolution model of creative design. Dorst and Cross reported examples of co-evolution in which the designer formulates a partial structuring of the problem-space and then transfers that partial structure into the solution-space, and so develops both problem and solution in parallel. They suggested that there were also converse cases in which solution structuring preceded problem structuring, that is, in which the designer first identifies a partial structure in the solution space, such as a preferred shape or form, and then uses that to structure the problem space. These two variant strategies of co-evolution might be labelled as 'problem driven' and 'solution driven' design strategies. Following Lawson (1979) and others, solution driven strategies might be expected to be the dominant form in design.For some time, there has also been interest in relationships between cognitive style, design strategy and design performance (Cross, 1985; Kvan and Y...

A Systematic Review of Protocol Studies on Conceptual Design Cognition

“…Evaluation entails the assessment of concepts against design requirements, constraints, and criteria [27] typically defined during problem analysis [47]. Authors were found to highlight the following as sub-activities involved in evaluation: comparing [4,41]; judging, on the basis of value [41,47], aesthetics [49], affect [4], or objective criteria [43,47,48]; and decision making with respect to which concept should be taken forward from a range of alternatives [43,47,48].…”

“…However, in certain studies, idea generation and synthesis are treated as separate activities [27,47]. In addition to synthesis, authors were found to highlight further sub-activities involved in concept generation, namely: memory retrieval [3,44]; association/analogical reasoning/case-based reasoning [3,21,25,45,48]; and the generation/transformation/ maintenance of internal representations [3,30,44].…”

Process models in design and development

“…Models taking this view are often called solution-oriented (Wynn and Clarkson 2005). According to Kruger and Cross (2006), they are usually considered to be more realistic representations of the designer's thought process than models which suggest the top-down and abstract-to-concrete strategy exemplified in Fig. 3.…”

Meeting the expectation of industry: an integrated approach for the teaching of mechanics and electronics to design students

“…Among the fundamental elements of the design process are the establishment of objectives and criteria synthesis, construction, testing and evaluation' (ABET 2012). To date, there has been a significant amount of research addressing the design education of engineering students, including (Atman et al, 1999, Atman and Turns 2001, Atman et al 2005, Bursic and Atman 1997, Christiaans and Dorst, 1992, Cross 2001, Ennis and Gyeszly 1991, Kruger and Cross 2006, Pahl 1999, Radcliffe and Lee 1989, Stauffer and Ullman 1988. However, there is limited research addressing the engineering design education of design students.…”