scholarly journals Understanding the Order of Engineering Design Research

10.14311/434 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Horváth
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Shared Understanding ◽  
Teleological Explanation ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Internal Relationships ◽  
Research Domains

Engineering design research manifests as a platform for exploration, description, arrangement, rationalization, and application of design knowledge. What we can see when we are looking at the research into engineering design is an almost chaotically fragmented picture. Is it possible to have a holistic view on the contents and internal relationships of engineering design research? This paper considers teleology, a reflection of a branch of philosophical speculations, as the doctrine of ordering knowledge of engineering design and structuring engineering design research accordingly. Teleology explains that the ultimate reason behind design is to sustain human existence and well being by virtual creation of artifacts and services for society. To this end, knowledge of engineering research is supposed to be transferred from the platform of scientific/theoretical exploration and comprehension to the platform of technical/pragmatic application. This implies a natural streaming of knowledge of engineering design. In order to make the teleological explanation operational, a framework of reasoning has been constructed by adopting the analogy of the source, channel and sink of a stream. To represent the source, channel and sink categories of engineering design knowledge, the author inaugurated nine categories in the framework. It has been hypothesized that the introduced categories are equally valid for research in engineering design as well as for the knowledge of engineering design. Within each category, research domains and trajectories have been defined. The proposed teleology-based framework lends itself to a better understanding of the disciplinary articulation and intrinsic relationships of engineering design research. It is hoped, among other things, to form a basis for a shared understanding, to make the influence of decisions on research programs more transparent, as well as to facilitate organizing subject materials for various design courses.

Present Trends in Designing of Technical Systems

2013 ◽  
Vol 460 ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Šeminský
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Problem Size ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Design Theories

Paper is focused to the development in designing of technical systems and present methodology approaches. For a long time, engineering design research has been focused on the development of various design theories, methodologies, methods, tools, and procedures. Engineers to more efficiently design artefacts have subsequently used that design methods. However, as the artefacts have grown in complexity, the need for new methods has become obvious. Also, in a nowadays world, increased competition and globalisation require organizations to re-examine traditional product development strategies. While the difficulties in design synthesis are caused by a wide variety of issues, the complicatedness under problem size is so essential that it make procedural design knowledge insufficient to generate superior design solutions.

Validating Design Methods and Research: The Validation Square

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjartan Pedersen ◽  
Jan Emblemsvåg ◽  
Reid Bailey ◽  
Janet K. Allen ◽  
Farrokh Mistree
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Fundamental Problem ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
New Knowledge

Abstract Validation of engineering research is typically anchored in the scientific inquiry tradition that is based primarily on logical induction and / or deduction. Since much engineering research is based on mathematical modeling, this kind of validation has worked — and still works — very well. There are, however, other areas of engineering research that rely on subjective statements as well as mathematical modeling, which makes this type of validation problematic. One such area is that of design methods within the field of engineering design. In this paper, we explore the question of how one validates design research in general, and design methods in particular. Being anchored in the scientific inquiry tradition, research validation is strongly tied to a fundamental problem addressed in epistemology, namely, what is scientific knowledge and how is new knowledge confirmed? Thus, we first look to epistemology for answers to why an approach solely based on ‘formal, rigorous and quantifiable’ validation constitutes a problem, and for an augmented approach to research validation. We then propose the ‘Validation Square’ which we validate by testing its internal consistency based on logic in addition to testing its external relevance based on its usefulness with respect to a purpose. We recognize that no one has the complete answer to the question we pose. To help us converge on an answer to these questions we “think aloud” and invite you to join us in doing the same. It is our hope that in so doing we, the members of this design research community, will all be the richer for it.

scholarly journals TOWARDS A DEBATE ON THE POSITIONING OF ENGINEERING DESIGN

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 3169-3178
Author(s):  
Chris McMahon ◽  
Claudia Eckert ◽  
Georges Fadel
Keyword(s):  
Earth Sciences ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Engineering Practice ◽  
Design Technology ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis paper is an invitation to a debate on the positioning of engineering design as a field of research. The paper lists a multiplicity of interpretations of design, questioning whether they are sufficient to describe engineering design in all its variety. Following a critical analysis of attempts to describe design's unique characteristics, and observations on the nature of design made from outside of the design research community, it presents a list of situations of design that the authors have observed in engineering practice, describing especially the relationship between design, technology and society. The paper then explores what these situations imply about the questions researchers should ask about the nature of design knowledge and expertise, and examines how the different situations might be categorised, before exploring the positioning of engineering design research with respect to other academic disciplines, in particular management and the human and earth sciences. The paper concludes with a call to a debate on the nature of engineering design with the aim to define this field more clearly to ourselves and to others.

Towards a Better Understanding of the Methodological Characteristics of Engineering Design Research

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imre Horva´th ◽  
Jozˇe Duhovnik
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Participatory Approaches

The goal of this paper is to interpret the methodological characteristics of design research. Design science is in a specific epistemic relationship with natural, formal, human, social, and applied sciences. Although design science explores and generates knowledge on its own, these sciences are the major sources of design knowledge. Therefore, design research shares many characteristics with the source sciences, but it also has its own features. First, the platform of reasoning of the study is clarified. Afterwards, the various underpinning philosophical assumptions, and the nature of research conducted in the source sciences and in design science are analyzed. It has been found that the distinguishing characteristics of design research are that it is view-dependent, largely purpose-driven, usually done with a compound focus, normatively instrumental, and strongly influenced by participatory approaches.

A study of practice based design research models from knowledge integration perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghai LI ◽  
Jun CAI
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Knowledge Integration ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Design Innovation

The transformation of China's design innovation industry has highlighted the importance of design research. The design research process in practice can be regarded as the process of knowledge production. The design 3.0 mode based on knowledge production MODE2 has been shown in the Chinese design innovation industry. On this cognition, this paper establishes a map with two dimensions of how knowledge integration occurs in practice based design research, which are the design knowledge transfer and contextual transformation of design knowledge. We use this map to carry out the analysis of design research cases. Through the analysis, we define four typical practice based design research models from the viewpoint of knowledge integration. This method and the proposed model can provide a theoretical basis and a path for better management design research projects.

In the Moment: Fostering Mindfulness and Reducing Stressors in the Healthcare Workplace

2021 ◽  
pp. 193758672098824
Author(s):  
Shabboo Valipoor ◽  
Sheila J. Bosch
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Job Dissatisfaction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Environmental Interventions ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
The Moment

While healthcare design research has primarily focused on patient outcomes, there is a growing recognition that environmental interventions could do more by promoting the overall quality of care, and this requires expanding the focus to the health and well-being of those who deliver care to patients. Healthcare professionals are under high levels of stress, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and poor patient care. Among other tools, mindfulness is recommended as a way of decreasing stress and helping workers function at higher levels. This article aims to identify potential environmental strategies for reducing work-related stressors and facilitating mindfulness in healthcare settings. By examining existing evidence on workplace mindfulness and stress-reducing design strategies, we highlight the power of the physical environment in not only alleviating stressful conditions but intentionally encouraging a mindful perspective. Strategies like minimizing distractions or avoiding overstimulation in the healthcare environment can be more effective if implemented along with the provision of designated spaces for mindfulness-based programs. Future research may explore optimal methods and hospital workers’ preferences for environments that support mindfulness and stress management. The long-term goal of all these efforts is to enhance healthcare professionals’ well-being, reignite their professional enthusiasm, and help them be resilient in times of stress.

scholarly journals Sharing engineering design knowledge in a distributed environment

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdenek Zdrahal ◽  
Paul Mulholland ◽  
John Domingue ◽  
Mark Hatala
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Knowledge ◽  
Distributed Environment
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