UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXTS OF THE FRONT END OF DESIGN

DS 68-7: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED 11), Impacting Society through Engineering Design, Vol. 7: Human Behaviour in Design, Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark, 15.-19.08.2011

Year: 2011
Editor: Culley, S.J.; Hicks, B.J.; McAloone, T.C.; Howard, T.J. & Badke-Schaub, P.
Author: Harrison, Thomas; Aurisicchio, Marco
Series: ICED
Section: Human Behaviour in Design
Page(s): 437-447

Abstract

What do we really know about design experience during the front end of design and which personality traits assist the designer? This paper describes empirical research currently taking place into understanding the knowledge, skills and traits that are utilised by the designer during the early part of new product development (NPD). A literature review of papers that refers to knowledge, skills and traits being used during NPD and creative activities is presented. The knowledge, skills and traits discussed by designers of varying levels of experience during interviews with the main author of the article are then compared to findings from the literature review.

Keywords: TRAITS; KNOWLEDGE; FRONT END DESIGN; EXPERIENCE; DESIGN SKILLS; CONTEXTS

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