Creative Design Engineering: Introduction to an Interdisciplinary Approach

Creative Design Engineering: Introduction to an Interdisciplinary Approach presents the latest information on a field that has traditionally been primarily concerned with how to make things. However, as technology has advanced, and we have no shortage of things, a new challenge for today’s engineers is what to make. In tackling this, our approaches to engineering design have come under the spotlight.

This book presents solutions to this topic in different sections that highlight the basic concerns associated with innovation. First, design is considered a kind of universal human act. Second, it is an interdisciplinary approach that brings together perspectives from fields such as cognitive science and science of knowledge is adopted. Third, the scope of the discussion also includes the process of creating an initial idea for a new product (called the pre-design phase), as well as the use of the product in society (the post-design phase).

Design engineers and researchers in engineering design will find this a user-friendly route to understanding the importance of creativity to engineering and how to implement new techniques to improve design outcomes. The book has been translated from the original Japanese book titled Sozo Dezain Kogaku [Creative Design Engineering] (published by the University of Tokyo Press 2014).

Draws on research in industrial design, art, and cognitive science to present a concept of creativity which breaks free of traditional engineering thinking Deconstructs design as a human activity to increase our understanding, helping us create outstanding engineering projects and systems Includes discussion points to help the reader not only explore the concepts in the book, but also apply them to their own design contexts

Chapter 1 Purpose of Creative Design Engineering

Part 1 Motive of design

Chapter 2 Motive of design and the design cycle model

Chapter 3 Aspects of motive of design: One form of inner and outer motive

Part 2 Theory and methodology of concept generation

Chapter 4 The metaphor method: Theory and methodology of concept generation (1st method)

Chapter 5 The blending method: Theory and methodology of concept generation (2nd method)

Chapter 6 Using thematic relation: Theory and methodology of concept generation (3rd method)

Chapter 7 Abduction and concept generation

Chapter 8 Basic principles of concept generation

Part 3 Theory and methodology of conceptual design

Chapter 9 Methodology of conceptual design

Chapter 10 Basic principles of conceptual design

Part 4 Design ability and sociality

Chapter 11 Abilities required for creative design thinking and transferring these

Chapter 12 From product design to technology design

Chapter 13 The significance of creative design engineering