Making Design Objects Relevant to the Task at Hand

Many problem-solving approaches are based on the assumption that a problem can be precisely defined before it is solved. These approaches are inadequate for dealing with ill-defined problems, which require the coevolution of problem setting and problem solving. In this paper, we describe integrated, domain-oriented, knowledge-based design environments and their underlying multifaceted architecture. The environments empower humans to cope with ill-defined problems, such as design, by supporting an incrementalapproachto problem setting and problem solving. We focus on the integration of specification, construction, and a catalog of prestored design objects in those environments. The synergy of integration enables the environments to make those objects relevant to the task at hand. Taking architectural design as a domain to illustrate our approach, we describe an operational, prototype system (CATALOGEXPLORER) that assists designers in locating examplesin the catalogthat are relevantto the task at hand as articulatedby a partial specificationand a partial construction. Users are thereby relieved of the task of forming queries and navigating in information spaces. l

Authors

• Gerhard Fischer Kumiyo Nakakoji

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