On modeling integrated design environments

The authors describe an approach towards modeling the heterogeneous aspects of design environments which is based on a paradigm of separation and integration, yielding an adequate, well structured, non-redundant, and integrated design model for generic design environments. The design model consists of five partial models: (1) design flow model; (2) design tool model; (3) design structure model; (4) design object model; and (5) design subject model. The design structure model is introduced for modeling on a higher level of abstraction exactly those aspects of design objects which are necessary for design methodology management. The applied concept is called design object abstraction