pdf Interactive Generative Systems for Conceptual Design:
An Empirical Perspective

CLAUDIA ECKERT

Department of Design and Innovation, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

IAN KELLY

Department of Computing, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

MARTIN STACEY

Department of Computer and Information Sciences, De Montfort University, Milton Keynes, UK.

Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, volume 13 number 4, 303-320 (1999)

Abstract. This paper argues from extensive research findings in design psychology and industrial design processes, as well as our own observations, that interactive generative systems can be powerful tools for human designers. Moreover, interactive generative systems can fit naturally into human design thinking and industrial design practice. This discussion is focused on aesthetic design fields like knitwear and graphic design, but is largely applicable to major branches of engineering. Human designers and generative systems have complementary abilities. Humans are extremely good at perceptual evaluation of designs, according to criteria that are extremely hard to program. As a result they can provide fitness evaluations for evolutionary generative systems. They can also tailor the biases that generative systems use to reach useful solutions quickly. We discuss an application of these approaches: Kelly's evolutionary systems for color scheme design. Automatic design systems can work interactively with human designers by generating complete designs from partial specifications, that can they be used as starting points for designing by modification. We discuss an application of this approach: Eckert's garment shape design system.

Keywords: generative systems, evolutionary systems, automatic design, design psychology, conceptual design.

Author addresses.

Claudia Eckert
The Design Group
Department of Design, Development,
    Environment and Materials
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology
The Open University
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
United Kingdom
C.M.Eckert@open.ac.uk

Martin Stacey
Department of Computer Technology
Faculty of Technology
De Montfort University
Leicester LE1 9BH
United Kingdom
mstacey@dmu.ac.uk