A visual metaphor representation of a design process model

Engineering designers, industrial designers and architects have different design cultures in their approaches to solving design problems. Traditionally engineering and architectural designers have used a structured approach based upon a ‘concept, embodiment, detail and prototype’ model to design their product. However, industrial designers have tended to use a less structured approach based on ‘intuitive’ and ‘creative’ techniques, which can vary from one designer to another. This paper firstly deals with the various types of traditional design process models in terms of ‘Descriptive’, ‘Prescriptive’ and ‘Industrial’ categories. The paper then introduces a 2D design process model and then progresses to discuss the utilisation of 3D Virtual Reality software to provide an innovative visual metaphor representation of the development of a novel 3D design process model. The model includes consideration of development and analysis of the design brief, request for proposal, time compression technologies and virtual reality areas. The software prototype enables the design team to both visualise their progression through the design process model and allow the integration of engineering, industrial and architectural design methodologies. The model is in the advanced developmental stage and testing and validation is being performed with undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University and local companies. Index terms – design process models, interaction, multidisciplinary, virtual reality,