A Study On Design Complexity And Design Computing

Design is a timeless field of humanity and technology. Although the design objects and methods are changed with time, but the human emotion and value connotation, which included in the products, are not only relatively stable, but also with vitality. While things always have mystic aura when they contained vitality, no matter it is science technology such as Internet, or social organizations as a colony of ants, behind their mystery laid a simple and stable structure, served a simple and direct value goal. Therefore, behind the mystery of design, does there also exist the stable logical structure and the core rules of value, become this paper’s major content. These issues related to the state of existence, value expression, innovation mode and development orientation of design in the information society, thus, the design research and application have to treat these matters seriously.This paper based on the theory and perspective of complexity, and the complexity of design means: design activities are multiple factors influenced network activities without complete reason or central control; based on some kinds of operating rules, design activities generate various beha viors and abundant information, which exchange frequently, widely and asymmetrically in inner design; the design subjects(or designers) can benefit from studying environment information and innovation of design objects to make design more adaptive. Thus, a design study with complexity perspective requires that on the whole to understand design as a “live” system, and the hierarchical relationship and interactive rules between objects and constituent elements are the source of the system vitality(namely th e creativity). Therefore, the design creativities generated by(designer’s, but not only) knowledge and wisdom are embedded in the complex system made up of design elements, and expressed through the macroscopic behavior of the system. In addition, designe r(or computer) can produce complexities(or call it creativities) on system level through the mastery of system elements. Based on the above, this study suggests that there is design study aimed design complexity.Based on the research question, this stud y claims the application of computer-aided design as the main research objective, rather than just discuss the nature and structure of design from the level of philosophy and value meaning. It is the basis of this study, and also the viewpoint of rational analysis. Thereby, this study adopted experimental study method in addition to case study, questionnaire survey and so on, from perspective of practice, to reflect the problems in design objectively and directly. The experiments include: the mapping experi ment between design space and design properties, the cognitive experiment of generality in car styling design, degrees of network for design objects and so on. The purpose of these experiments is to analysis the internal structure and value cognition relat ionship of design from the qualitative view, to provide the basis for the logical framework of design and the application of computer-aided design.The main content of this thesis include:Chapter I presents the inner relationship between design activitie s and complexity theory, and the application value to computer-aided design based on the study of complexity, complex system and CAD. The research objects, the key questions, the paper’s organization structure and the background and significance of selected topic are given in this chapter. In Chapter II, the inner complexity and particularity of design has been cleared through case study, literature research and experimental analysis. Also, the processing mode for computer dealing with design complexity and the focus of the follow-up study has been pointed out. Chapter III gives the source of design complexity and the expression mode of design by experimental study of the external shape mapping experiments. Chapter IV studies based on the results of inner and outer design studies, put forward the concept of the logical depth of design object, which applied to represent the framework of design object system and provide basis mode for CAD. In Chapter V, the logical depth framework was used in the analysis of th e process and the object of design. From the perspective of complexity study, the questions of design value judgment and credible problem has been answered. In addition, the CAD system framework and object credible evaluation method have been given. Based on the logical depth framework and aimed the current development trend of CAD, Chapter VI propose a design idea of CAD system, and accomplished two prototype CAD system on different application domain.The main contributions of my research are in three ar eas:First, developing the concept of design(semantic) space, and putting forward the logical framework of design. The concept of design space(hereinafter referred to as Design Space for short) is a general concept, which has been widely used in design practice, but its meaning is unclear. Due to the complex of the design object itself as well as the cognitive fuzziness, when faced with different design problem, there are different definitions and interpretations for the operability concept of Design Spac e. The concept itself did not form a unified definition and no need to do so. However, during the development from the one dimension of semantic differences to the two-dimensional image scale diagram, a crucial point has been overlooked or misunderstood. That is, according to my experimental studies’ findings, the pursuit of aesthetic perception of design(called aesthetic properties of design) is not a linear, low-dimensional problem, but forms a multidimensional, nonlinear, reticulate space. In addition, an aesthetic property in this space exists in multiple, differentiated development features. This discovery radically enriching and refining the understanding of Design Space, its essence is to reflect the diversity of design. Moreover, the design has been considered as an experience knowledge dominant field, and the knowledge of design is regarded implicit knowledge. Whereas, design is a typical complexity problem based on the analysis of complexity theory. The game of design object’s inner tensions(engineering technology, aesthetic expression, brand gene, market demands and so on) makes the object like a living organism, which has the creation, development and the demise of the life course, and design itself has an intrinsic logical structure due to a com bination of these forces. In this paper, through case study, cognitive experiment and design process observation, the logical structure of design has been in-depth studied. Combined with the requirements of computer processing and model expression, the logical depth framework of design is put forward on the basis of the characteristic line and surface, cored with the volume, treatment and graphic, and applied to CAD system design.Second, the value judgment and credibility of design are expounded under the logical depth framework of design. When with “the technical understanding” of design to solve “the sensibility problems” of design practice, its basis and guarantee of value judgments is the credibility problems of design. This problem is essentially the regression of cognitive explanation of design, also a social responsibility that design should shoulder--- the process of design should pursue the value of the positive significance, and this value need to be effectively conveyed to the public. In this paper, it points out that there are two aspects in the credibility, which are design behavior and design output. Focused on the logical structure of design, from the design object and design process, the credibility problems have been detailed analyzed. In the design process, a combined credible guarantee mechanism is put forward, which is composed of credible engineering, credible design and credible brand. This mechanism takes the concept integrity(consistency) as the core value of design. Moreover, the credibility of design objects is divided into two parts: credible object expression and credible validation. Among them, based on the combination of the VTG logical structure, natural semantic attributes and digital expression, a credible integration digital model of design expression--- styling prototype, is formed. The credible validation of design objects, on the other hand, is insured through an easy to operate and relatively objective credible evaluation method, based on the cognitive relationship between design characters. The credibility of design is a design problems that about value judgment and value choice, and also a science research topic that rises to the philosophy level, but its essence is related to the practical question that how to apply the theoretical results of design studies to practice. In this paper, the study is based on the experience of design activity, and tries to from the viewpoint of science to analyze the significance of artificial things and its credibility. The purpose of these is to draw a relatively objective and reliable method for design credibility.In the end, a design idea of CAD system is proposed and two kinds of prototype systems have been built. To enter the era of intelligent assistant of CAD, it required the design developed a theoretic model that combine the experience knowledge of design practice and styling expression within the field, in addition, the core of the software system should be more and more tilted to the users of the system and the design and development process, rather than just focus on the target objects and data structure. This paper is precisely based on this kind of thinking, and with support from the Major State Basic Research Development Program(MOST), we designed and developed a concept CAD system based on the logical depth framework. This system is able to accept semantic input and form the unified modify between characteristic lines and surface based on the input. Thus, it can support the rapid development of concept design and the frequent i terations in design process. In the other hand, due to the rapid change of market and technology, product development is in the profound changes, many new patterns and challenges are appearing. Therefore, with the support of Nokia China Research Institute, in order to meet the needs of product design under the environment of industrial mode innovation, a mass customization online platform was designed and developed. Its essence is to restructure the design process and objects through mass customization, to convert the issue of design innovation into the mining and selection for the possibilities of design, in the form of value choice to cope with the complexity of design problems. Based on these new conditions, we carried out extensive research work in the d ata model and system flow. The design of these two systems is to discuss the developing direction of CAD from mainstream and future trends, respectively, and the solution is given.In this paper, from both perspectives of science and philosophy, using rati onal tools to analyze perceptual design and its value is this study’s focus. Behind the diversiform and living product forms, there must lurk a logical, stable and efficient structure form, its essence is through the product form to serve the effective communication of design information. To study and explore this structure provides the basis for intelligent assistant of CAD, and indicates the direction of design innovation and design calculation, will inevitably promote the development of the design.