Explication of design requirements through reflection on solutions

Practitioners involved in engineering design use different knowledge sources to tackle design problems. From the point of availability two types are distinguished: well-structured, explicit knowledge as opposed to tacit, implicit and experience-based knowledge. Each type plays a particular role in engineering design, and thus in knowledge-based design support systems (KBDSS). We look at the support systems for engineering design. The knowledge-centred view is emphasised in three facets describing the proposed approach: knowledge representation for design, design process control, and retrieval of relevant knowledge. The paper presents a generic model of engineering design based on a discussion on reflection and its place in design. The proposed framework and its implications are justified on a well-known design example