Decision-making in Design: A Comparative Study
Year: 2009
Editor: Chakrabarti, A.
Author: Almendra,A.Rita; Christiaans,Henri
Section: Design Theory and Research Methodology
Page(s): 508-518
Abstract
This paper presents a comparative study of the design processes of nal-year industrial design students of 2 countries while conducting an individual design task. This task was identical for both groups making this comparison possible even though the studies are 15 years apart. This new study gave us opportunity to observe new aspects initially not focused upon. The operational aims of this study are the identi cation and comparison of the way senior design students in both groups take decisions, the relation with design moves along the process, and the factors in uencing the decisions and moves.For that purpose both verbal protocol analysis studies (VPA) were analyzed on the basis of activities and decision-making moments described in terms of reasons behind it and goals intended to be achieved through it.The results indicate the relevance of two aspects: a) the abductive reasoning that supports designing gains visibility through analysis based upon decision-making; where idea generation plays a key role. b) the notion of design as a decision-making process could bridge, in a meaningful way, design education and design practice in organizations
Keywords: Design Process, Verbal Protocol Analysis, Decision-Making in Design, Information in Design