Development of a heuristics-based method as a support tool for the design process

Abstract

This document compiles the development and validation of a research process focused on evaluating the applicability of heuristic rules into the decision-making processes involved in design practices -- The goal of the present study is to generate a strategic approach for the fixation, tangibilization and reuse of knowledge within environments usually involved in design processes -- For this purpose, the research focuses on the proposition of a method that seeks to facilitate the introduction of heuristics into particular stages of the design process, such as conceptualization and architecture definition -- This is achieved by providing a structured approach that involves a disaggregation of the design problem, and its further analysis towards the definition of specific problem solving actions based on heuristic rules -- Furthermore, this study comprises the development of a specific tool that helps designers implement heuristic strategies in their design problems by exemplifying said strategies and generalizing the physical or mechanical principle behind them -- In general terms, what is expected of this research is that the defined method and its support tool will help designers to explore diverse solution principles with applications previously implemented in diverse domains, thus triggering creativity in decision-making and problem solving activities -- This will enable a more diverse and detailed concept generation activity -- In addition, it will allow organizations to count with tools and procedures for them to ensure that emerging knowledge can be integrated to the proposed approach and reused in the future