Improving product design via a shape grammar tool

Modern computer methods of design provide a powerful tool for communicating design concepts in a quantitative manner, but lack the flexibility to allow designers freedom to thoroughly explore a design space. On the other hand, traditional methods such as sketching allow designers freedom to quickly explore ideas but provide no quantitative information about a concept. We present a shape grammar tool that has the potential to bridge the gap between traditional sketching techniques allowing designers the freedom to explore a design space, whilst providing quantitative information about the designs produced. Examples from car design are described to illustrate the application of the shape grammar tool.     «

Modern computer methods of design provide a powerful tool for communicating design concepts in a quantitative manner, but lack the flexibility to allow designers freedom to thoroughly explore a design space. On the other hand, traditional methods such as sketching allow designers freedom to quickly explore ideas but provide no quantitative information about a concept. We present a shape grammar tool that has the potential to bridge the gap between traditional sketching techniques allowing design...     »