Concept Generation Phase Research Articles

Applied Ideation Methodology Selector Tool

AbstractIn engineering and product development, it is challenging to identify the most promising opportunities to work on, translate those opportunities into well‐defined problem statements, generate many alternative concepts, and select/implement the most promising concepts. Many well‐known tools aim to put structured processes around the ideation or concept generation phase, including, but not limited to, Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ), Yilmaz et al. 77 Design Heuristics, Biomimicry, and Brainwriting. Herein, the authors identify thirteen methods specific to concept generation, clearly define and differentiate what these methods excel at, and provide structured reasoning as to why some methods are preferred in various situations over others. Following this reasoning the authors propose a Microsoft Excel‐based tool built off a modified version of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) that with user input will recommend the best set of ideation methodologies for the users' scenario. Seven criteria definitions were established to differentiate and rank each ideation methodology. Multiple test cases demonstrate the results of the selection tool to be predictable and rational. Possible future work includes adding additional ideation methodologies to the Excel based tool, further validation by more users, and expanding it to include tools for both problem definition and concept selection/implementation methodologies. The authors feel that doing great systems engineering must begin with a great architecture/concept, and this tool can facilitate routine development of highly innovative, high‐valued solutions that, when well executed via a rigorous systems engineering process, will create exceptional enterprise value.

Optimization and evaluation of the distribution of Fischer-Tropsch products over a cobalt-based catalyst utilising design expert software

Modelling biomass to liquid via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) system allows researchers to investigate the most efficient parameters while running the system under optimal conditions. As part of the design of experiments (DOE) procedure, a special data simulation method based on response surface methodology (RSM) is utilized to thoroughly analyse the impact of operating circumstances. The objective of this study was to examine the factors that affect the production of C1, C2–C4, and C5+ in FTS process, and then optimize the critical factors utilising factorial design and response surface techniques. The parameters evaluated were reaction temperature, reaction pressure and the crystallite size of cobalt. The effects of these factors and their potential for synergy were explored simultaneously using multivariate DOE, with the yield of different hydrocarbon composition selectivity's as the measured responses. In the concept generation phase, optimization was based on the literature consulted, which proved to be an effective method for determining the optimization parameters. The detailed conceptual design included the generation of models using statistical methods and response surface models. Finally, the optimized design was validated using catalysts and parameters obtained during the optimization process, and this were compared to the output recorded in the theoretical modelling. The optimized parameters resulted in performance consistency, with the theoretical model for each group of hydrocarbons being validated by actual experiments. The established models were seen to characterize hydrocarbon distributions accurately and repeatedly over a wide range of reaction conditions (200–270 °C, 5–20 Bar, and 3–26 nm) using a cobalt-based catalyst. According to the detailed quantitative models developed, for higher C5+ production, 220 °C, 10 barg and 11 nm (cobalt crystallite) benchmark parameters were set to produce 19.3 % C1, 11.4 % C2–C4 and 69 % C5+ selectivity's. Comparative analysis showed a 1.9 %, 3.9 % and 0.3 % percentage difference between the theoretical output and the actual output of C1, C2–C4 and C5+, respectively.

FUNCTION DRIVEN ASSESSMENT OF MANUFACTURING RISKS IN CONCEPT GENERATION STAGES

AbstractDecisions made in the concept generation phase have a significant effect on the product. While product- related risks typically can be considered in the early stages of design, risks such as supply chain and manufacturing methods are rarely easy to account for in early phases. This is because the currently available methods require mature data, which may not be available during concept generation. In this paper, we propose an approach to address this. First, the product and the non-product (manufacturing and/or supply chain) attributes are modelled using the enhanced function means (EF-M) modelling method. The EF-M method provides the opportunity to model alternative solutions-set for functions. Dependencies are then mapped within the product and the manufacturing models, and also in between them. An automatic combinatorial method of concept generation is employed where each generated instance is a design concept-manufacturing method pair. A risk propagation algorithm is then used to assess the risks of all the generated alternatives.

Artificial Intelligence as a pedagogical tool for architectural education: What does the empirical evidence tell us?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in arts and design have beengrowing in popularity in recent years. Numerous AI program applications arepublicly available, both commercial and open source, offering a chance to convertthe textual description of a design or context into original content images. Whilemany research projects tackled AI use in architecture since 2015, there seems to bea lack of empirical evidence of its use in Architecture education as a tool for conceptgeneration. An experimental architecture design course took place in Fall 2022where 34 students utilised AI programs in the conceptual design phase to produceoriginal content images from narratives to help students generate concepts for theirbuildings. The designs of the experimental student groups are compared to anothercontrol group of 50 students which use more traditional conceptual design methodson a similar project in the same semester. This paper aims to highlight theopportunities and challenges of using AI tools in the concept generation phase inarchitecture design education by measuring their effectiveness to increase creativityin form finding. With the use of recent literature in architecture learning theoriesand pedagogies, this experimental approach will be critiqued to provide furtherinsights into AI’s role in architecture education.

Okvir za procenu koncepata rešenja u inventivnim dizajnima zasnovanim na TRIZ-u korišćenjem pristupa funkcionalnog, bihevioralnog i strukturalnog modeliranja

This study proposes an evaluation framework to explore the solution concepts generated by inventive design approaches in the concept generation phase of the engineering design process. The concept generation phase significantly impacts producing inventive solutions, as a failure at this stage can lead to time-consuming redesign and expensive rework without any solution. The proposed framework is focused on solving two problems at this stage: first, how to represent a solution concept that is not an obvious product but rather a rough idea capable of guiding designers to produce inventive solutions. And second, how to analyze the solution concepts to evaluate and compare with others. The evaluation framework is based on the classical Gero's function, behavior, and structure product modeling formalism. The capability of the proposed evaluation framework is initially tested through its application to solution concepts generated by inventive design approaches like the Russian Theory of Inventive Problem Solving TRIZ.

Design of a Transformable Furniture: A Necessary Innovation for a Growing Population with a Fixed Land Mass

The objective of the research was to develop a furniture set that consists of a multifunctional bed, study table and a cabinet. A room at Adeniyi hostel of Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria was used as case study. A pre-study was performed to define the problem area and to set the requirements for the furniture. The pre-study included: studies and discussions with students, literature review within the field, user survey, market search and ergonomics study. When the specification was set and clarified, the concept generation phase was started. Design methods were used to structure and support the design activity. In addition, principles of inclusive design were followed in order to end up with a design that would fit a larger part of the targeted customer group. The generated design concepts were assessed according to fulfillment of set requirements. One final concept was chosen for further development in the following detail design phase. This activity included specifying the design in detail, e.g. related to materials, colors and accessories. The collaboration with the supervisor was essential during the whole project for getting inspiration, feedback and important inputs to the design activity. Hence, the supervisor’s opinion was continuously considered along the design process. A prototype was made of the final design and tests were performed to assess the design and to get input for further development. The motive behind the research is to improve comfort of a growing population with a minimum cost and optimizing space.

Design Meets Neuroscience: An Electroencephalogram Study of Design Thinking in Concept Generation Phase.

Extant research on design thinking is subjective and limited. This manuscript combines protocol analysis and electroencephalogram (EEG) to read design thoughts in the core design activities of concept generation phase. The results suggest that alpha band power had event related synchronization (ERS) in the scenario task and divergent thinking occupies a dominant position. However, it had event related desynchronization (ERD) in analogy and inference activities, etc., and it is stronger for mental pressure and exercised cognitive processing. In addition, the parietooccipital area differs significantly from other brain areas in most design activities. This study explores the relationship of different design thinking and EEG data, which is innovative and professional in the field of design, providing a more objective data basis and evaluation method for future applied research and diverse educational practices.

Rapid development of an integrated remote programming platform for neuromodulation systems through the biodesign process

Treating chronic symptoms for pain and movement disorders with neuromodulation therapies involves fine-tuning of programming parameters over several visits to achieve and maintain symptom relief. This, together with challenges in access to trained specialists, has led to a growing need for an integrated wireless remote care platform for neuromodulation devices. In March of 2021, we launched the first neuromodulation device with an integrated remote programming platform. Here, we summarize the biodesign steps taken to identify the unmet patient need, invent, implement, and test the new technology, and finally gain market approval for the remote care platform. Specifically, we illustrate how agile development aligned with the evolving regulatory requirements can enable patient-centric digital health technology in neuromodulation, such as the remote care platform. The three steps of the biodesign process applied for remote care platform development are: (1) Identify, (2) Invent, and (3) Implement. First, we identified the unmet patient needs through market research and voice-of-customer (VOC) process. Next, during the concept generation phase of the invention step, we integrated the results from the VOC into defining requirements for prototype development. Subsequently, in the concept screening phase, ten subjects with PD participated in a clinical pilot study aimed at characterizing the safety of the remote care prototype. Lastly, during the implementation step, lessons learned from the pilot experience were integrated into final product development as new features. Following final product development, we completed usability testing to validate the full remote care system and collected preliminary data from the limited market release experience. The VOC data, during prototype development, helped us identify thresholds for video quality and needs priorities for clinicians and patients. During the pilot study, one subject reported anticipated remote–care-related adverse events that were resolved without sequelae. For usability analysis following final product development, the failure rates for task completion for both user groups were about 1%. Lastly, during the initial 4 weeks of the limited market release experience, a total of 858 remote care sessions were conducted with a 93% success rate. Overall, we developed a remote care platform by adopting a user-centric approach. Although the system intended to address pre-COVID19 challenges associated with disease management, the unforeseen overlap of the study with the pandemic elevated the importance of such a system and an innovative development process enabled us to advance a patient-centric platform to gain regulatory approval and successfully launch the remote care platform to market.

An Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Mobile App for Data Collection in Type A Hemophilia: Design and Usability Study.

BackgroundThere is currently limited evidence on the level and intensity of physical activity in individuals with hemophilia A. Mobile technologies can offer a rigorous and reliable alternative to support data collection processes but they are often associated with poor user retention. The lack of longitudinal continuity in their use can be partly attributed to the insufficient consideration of stakeholder inputs in the development process of mobile apps. Several user-centered models have been proposed to guarantee that a thorough knowledge of the end user needs is considered in the development process of mobile apps.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to design and validate an electronic patient-reported outcome mobile app that requires sustained active input by individuals during POWER, an observational study that aims at evaluating the relationship between physical activity levels and bleeding in patients with hemophilia A.MethodsWe adopted a user-centered design and engaged several stakeholders in the development and usability testing of this mobile app. During the concept generation and ideation phase, we organized a need-assessment focus group (FG) with patient representatives to elicit specific design requirements for the end users. We then conducted 2 exploratory FGs to seek additional inputs for the app’s improvement and 2 confirmatory FGs to validate the app and test its usability in the field through the mobile health app usability questionnaire.ResultsThe findings from the thematic analysis of the need-assessment FG revealed that there was a demand for sense making, for simplification of app functionalities, for maximizing integration, and for minimizing the feeling of external control. Participants involved in the later stages of the design refinement contributed to improving the design further by upgrading the app’s layout and making the experience with the app more efficient through functions such as chatbots and visual feedback on the number of hours a wearable device had been worn, to ensure that the observed data were actually registered. The end users rated the app highly during the quantitative assessment, with an average mobile health app usability questionnaire score of 5.32 (SD 0.66; range 4.44-6.23) and 6.20 (SD 0.43; range 5.72-6.88) out of 7 in the 2 iterative usability testing cycles.ConclusionsThe results of the usability test indicated a high, growing satisfaction with the electronic patient-reported outcome app. The adoption of a thorough user-centered design process using several types of FGs helped maximize the likelihood of sustained retention of the app’s users and made it fit for data collection of relevant outcomes in the observational POWER study. The continuous use of the app and the actual level of engagement will be evaluated during the ongoing trial.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04165135; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04165135

A survey of immersive technologies and applications for industrial product development

With the expanded digitalization of manufacturing and product development process, research into the use of immersive technology in smart manufacturing has increased. The use of immersive technology is theorized to increase the productivity of all steps in the product development process, from the start of the concept generation phase to assembling the final product. Many aspects of immersive technology are considered, including techniques for CAD model conversion and rendering, types of VR/AR displays, interaction modalities, as well as its integration with different areas of product development. The purpose of this survey paper is to investigate the potential applications of immersive technology and advantages and potential drawbacks that should be considered when integrating the technology into the workplace. The potential application is broad, and the possibilities are continuing to expand as the technology used becomes more advanced and more affordable for commercial business to implement on a large scale. The technology is currently being utilized in the concept generation and in the design or engineering of new products. Additionally, the immersive technology have great potential to increase the productivity of assembly line workers and of the factory layout/functionality, and could provide a more hands-on form of training, which leads to the conclusion that immersive technology is the step to the future in terms of smart product development strategies to implement for employers.

Cognitive impact of virtual reality sketching on designers’ concept generation

ABSTRACT This study focuses on identifying the cognitive impact of virtual reality (VR) sketching on the concept generation phase of the design process. For an empirical study to analyse the cognitive influence of VR sketching, we conducted a pilot study for empirical research based on the protocol analysis of designers’ cognitive activities in VR sketching and compared the results with those of traditional sketching. Spatial inspection was a key behavioural factor of VR sketching when considering its high-frequency repetitive and continuous interactions with a designer's representation activities throughout the concept generation process. The cognitive impact of VR sketching revealed the following decisive features: extension of solution space, enhancement of idea transformation and inducement to a holistic design approach for concept generation. These findings provide insight for understanding the cognitive role of advanced digital design tools for future design research.

Concept generation in the architectural design process: A suggested hybrid model of vertical and lateral thinking approaches

Excellence in architectural design often requires incorporating a thematic inference to the design proposal, which emphasizes the key role of concept generation phase in the design process.In this study the author compares between vertical and lateral modes of thinking as two approaches for generating concepts in architecture design. The study first introduces different maps of the design process representing each of the two thinking modes. Empirical data is then acquired on the concepts generated by students using each thinking mode by applying congruent design maps on a simple design project. Guilford's criteria of creative thinking are used to evaluate students' proposals based upon their fluency, originality, flexibility and level of elaboration. The study highlights the importance of teaching concept generation methods at an early stage of architecture education and suggests an outline for its implementation. It underlines different outcomes achieved through following different thinking modes and recommends blending both thinking modes for generating creative concepts in architecture.

Integrated and Customer-Oriented Material and Process Selection by Sensory Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

AbstractToday, product success more than ever depends on the satisfaction of consumer needs. Besides, manufacturers need to shorten development cycles and accelerate product release in order to stay competitive. This is achieved by applying customer-oriented methods allowing for fast and reliable acting. During the early phase of product development, requirements acquisition is crucial for later success of products, since specifications are most influenceable at this point. Referring to the decisive concept generation phase, material and production definition is difficult due to the highly complex interrelations between material properties, production process capabilities, and resulting product characteristics. Especially in the context of lightweight design, concurrent material and processing technology selection must be considered due to its various possible interfaces.Thus, this contribution outlines an integrated approach towards an enhanced material and process related, customer-oriented requirements acquisition during the early phase upstream of product detailing. Here, conventional multi-criteria decision-making and tactile recognition are employed in an agile transformation model.

ICanCope PostOp: User-Centered Design of a Smartphone-Based App for Self-Management of Postoperative Pain in Children and Adolescents.

BackgroundModerate to severe postoperative pain in children is common. Increased pediatric day surgeries have shifted postoperative pain management predominantly to the home setting. Mobile health technology has the potential to overcome barriers to pain care by improving access to self-management resources. However, pain apps generally lack scientific evidence and are highly underutilized due to lack of involvement of end users in their development. Thus, an evidence-based pain self-management smartphone app that incorporates the needs and perspective of children and adolescents (end users) has potential to improve postoperative pain management.ObjectiveThis paper aimed to describe how the principles of user-centered design were applied to the development of iCanCope PostOp, a smartphone-based pain self-management app for children and adolescents after surgery. Specifically, it presents 2 completed phases of the user-centered design process (concept generation and ideation) for the iCanCope PostOp app.MethodsPhase 1 was a multisite needs assessment from the perspective of 19 children and adolescents who had undergone various day surgeries, 19 parents, and 32 multidisciplinary health care providers. Children, adolescents, and parents completed individual semistructured interviews, and health care providers participated in focus groups. Data were summarized using qualitative content analysis. Phase 2 developed a pain care algorithm for the app using Delphi surveys and a 2-day in-person design workshop with 11 multidisciplinary pediatric postoperative pain experts and 2 people with lived experience with postoperative pain.ResultsPhase 1 identified self-management challenges to postoperative pain management and recovery; limited available resources and reliance on medications as a predominant postoperative pain management strategy; and shared responsibility of postoperative pain care by children and adolescents, parents, and health care providers. Key app functions of tracking pain, pain self-management strategies, and goal setting were identified as priorities. Phase 2 led to the successful and efficient generation of a complete preliminary pain care algorithm for the iCanCope PostOp app, including clinically relevant inputs for feasible assessment and reassessment of pain and function (rest or sleep, movement or play, and mood or worry), as well as a catalog of pain management advice to be pushed to end users (psychological, physical, pharmacological, and education).ConclusionsThe concept ideation and generation phases of the user-centered design approach were successfully completed for the iCanCope PostOp app. Next steps will include design finalization, app development (iOS or Android), evaluation through a randomized controlled trial, and subsequent implementation of the iCanCope PostOp app in clinical care.

Preliminary Analysis and Simulation of Railroad Dispatcher Workload

Railroad dispatch centers increasingly use technology to assist dispatchers as they interact with multiple entities across a variety of tasks to ensure trains and track personnel function safely on an efficient schedule. A railroad dispatcher workload simulation could, therefore, be useful in estimating the impact of new technologies on dispatchers’ workload and overall system performance, particularly in the concept generation phase of a systems engineering process. This paper first discusses railroad dispatchers’ work analysis based on a large dispatch center and then presents the development of the Railroad Dispatcher Workload Simulation (RDWS), which generates models of dispatcher workload given various settings.

Balancing homogeneity and heterogeneity in design exploration by synthesizing novel design alternatives based on genetic algorithm and strategic styling decision

Designers constantly and consistently draft and develop both general concepts and directions to identify the solution that best fits the styling objectives of the lead designer. Designers often confront design fixations that cognitively clash to explore different design combinations. As design teams explore the range of possible design spaces of a certain design strategy, there is an opportunity for computational approaches to improve the styling process. By implementing product appearance similarity and styling strategy in computational design synthesis, it is possible to discover combinations that would otherwise remain unexplored by human designers. Numerous studies on design synthesis have been conducted. However, there has been no focus on the morphological synthesis of designs with strategic styling decisions. Considering this, the proposed study develops a method to synthesize car styling based on product appearance similarity for effective design exploration in the concept generation phase. The similarities of products across different generations, product portfolios, and competitors’ products are calculated to evaluate the strategic styling decision. The results of the strategic styling decision are used to formulate a fitness function. Car styling is then synthesized with a genetic algorithm based on this fitness function to generate car styling in accordance with the target strategic styling decision. In this respect, designers can computationally synthesize novel design alternatives that consider both homogeneity (family look in design) and heterogeneity (design trend in the market) by pinpointing the desired design exploration area. Ultimately, the style synthesis methodology proposed in this research can help designers to utilize the gradual visualization of styling strategies for more effective and efficient managerial design decisions. To do this, we conduct five major tasks: first, car design data are collected for design synthesis; second, the product appearance similarity is calculated to measure the strategic styling decision; third, synthesis validation is conducted to test whether the proposed methodology can create outside-the-box designs; fourth, a genetic algorithm is used to synthesize car designs in consideration of the strategic styling decision; finally, a series of in-depth interviews with experts and validation experiments are conducted with in-house automobile designers to examine the impact of the proposed methodology. The results showed that designers can quantitatively measure and compare the styling strategies of each car brand, then implement design upgrades, while still maintaining that specific style. Correspondingly, computationally generated design alternatives improve the satisfaction in ease, time, objective reflection and novelty of design outcomes when formulating design strategies in the concept generation phase.

Cognition in Design Management. At the Intersection of Conceptual Innovation and Design Thinking

Design thinking has been a growing topic over the past years in management literature. The novelty brought by this approach to managing innovation processes is not simply due to an enriched set of phases and principles, but it rests on the way innovation opportunities are framed through design. We suggest that the design thinking approach helps to deal with an inner and deeper level of each innovation process, that is the conceptual one. Counterintuitively, we argue, that this process of conceptual innovation starts much earlier than the “concept generation phase” already enucleated within the design thinking process. Drawing on most recent contributions on the cognitive nature of innovation processes, the paper aims at investigating the conceptual innovation mechanisms that are at play in design thinking dynamics. Through a multiple case study of three iconic design innovations in Italy, that revolutionized the way a scooter, a moka or a shop was conceived, and gave rise to a new generation of products and concept shops, we have identified the three phases of the design thinking in each innovation process and detected the mechanisms of conceptual innovation operating in each of them.

Estudio sobre el proceso de toma de decisiones durante la fase conceptual del diseño de producto

The phase of product design conceptualization is particularly important, since the decisions taken therein have a relevant impact on the definition of the degree of innovation, the quality of the design solution, the cost and, therefore, on the competitiveness of the product. During this phase, diverse options are continually accepted or discarded, so that making successful decisions becomes a very important activity for the industrial designer. This article examines the process of decision making by some industrial designers when they work as a team during the concept generation phase. The analysis has been developed through an experimental work with groups of undergraduate students of industrial design at Unviersidad Nacional de Colombia, who faced the challenge of conceptually solving a product in several working sessions, which were recorded by applying the design protocol study method. The result of the analysis concludes that the most relevant factors in the decision-making process refer to the experience of the participants, the way to deal with the exercise and the initial generation of solution proposals. There are recommendations to enhance the capabilities of assertive and dynamic interaction of industrial designers when they work together.

SoS Meta-architecture Assessment by Dual Application of Rule Based Fuzzy Inference Systems

In the early stages of system of systems (SoS) meta-architecture concept development, it is greatly beneficial to have a formal method of architecture assessment to ensure compliance to stakeholder needs and requirements. Key performance attributes (KPAs) and key functional attributes (KFAs) are linguistic terms that represent the non-functional and functional requirements of the architecture. KPAs and KFAs can be assessed and converted into numeric values that can be used as fuzzy inputs to Mamdani-type rule based fuzzy inference systems (MRBFIS) to make fuzzy assessments of SoS meta-architecture concepts. This paper details an application of an assessment model featuring the integration of two separate MRBFISs; each with five inputs, five membership functions (MFs), twenty five If-Then rules, and a single output that is determined by the fuzzy rule base. Each unique MRBFIS used in the assessment was developed using the MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Designer application. The numeric outputs of each MRBFIS were then combined to provide an integrated KPA and KFA total architecture assessment score. The assessment model detailed in this paper provides a formal method of architecture assessment to be used in conjunction with trade space exploration, systems scoping, and the concept generation phase. This assessment model may help prevent costly project failures, system ambiguity late in development, unacceptable risks, cost overrun, and the inability to develop critical systems.

Using Metaphor and Analogy for Understanding Structural Concepts in Architectural Education; an Iranian Perspective

By using two cognitive tools, metaphors and analogies, structural concepts can be made more observable and touchable for architects. These tools can help architects and designers to physically demonstrate structural concepts for better understanding. Since familiarity with the structural concepts is imperative for architects, it is important to determine the extent in which architects sharpen and solidify their understanding of structural concept using two very valuable cognitive tools, metaphors and analogies. Although in recent years, the number of studies focusing on the usage of metaphor and analogy was on the rise, very few works have included views and opinions of correspondent users in the architectural domain. Furthermore, having both metaphor and analogy under one investigation could help the researcher to see which one, metaphor or analogy, professional architects prefer to use more and which one of them architects use in various stages in their design process. In this regard, purposive sampling was applied to collect the data from ten professional Iranian architects who had the experience of working in this domain for more than 10 years. The participants of this study went through a semi-structured interview and their reports were analysed qualitatively. The findings reveal that while designing, Iranian professional architects do not have any preferences because they can equally apply both metaphors and analogies, but when dealing with their students in academic setting, using metaphor as a cognitive tool can lead to better results. Furthermore, Iranian architects use metaphor more in the initial stages of the architectural design process because according to them this physiognomic perception enhance understanding of a design situation and stimulate creative solutions to the problem at hand. Conversely, analogy is mainly used in the concept generation phase.