The Synergies Between Design Computing and Design Cognition

The development of new computing technology to support designers is typically initiated by developments in various areas of information technology such as artificial intelligence, information systems, and human computer interaction. The adaptation of these developments to support designers usually requires developing the new technology beyond its original capability to address the complexity and open-endedness of designing. Often there is a promise of improving the quality of the design, or improving the efficiency of the design process. Delivery on this promise is not easily evaluated or convincingly delivered. Recent developments in studying and understanding design cognition provides the opportunity to assess the impact of new technologies on design and to direct new developments in response to the impact.