Impact of CAD tools on creative problem solving in engineering design

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a survey of CAD users that examined the ways in which their computational environment may influence their ability to design creatively. This extensive online survey builds upon the findings of an earlier observational case study of the use of computer tools by a small engineering team. The case study was conducted during the conceptual and detailed stages of the design of a first-to-world product. Four mechanisms by which CAD tools may influence the creative problem solving process were investigated: enhanced visualisation and communication, circumscribed thinking, premature design fixation and bounded ideation. The prevalence of these mechanisms was examined via a series of questions that probed the user’s mode of working, attitudes, and responses to hypothetical situations. The survey showed good support for the first three mechanisms and moderate support for the fourth. The results have important implications for both the users and designers of CAD tools.

Introduction

Creativity is increasingly recognised as being important to engineers [1], [2], [3]. Creative problem solving is valuable at any stage in the design process, but it is of critical importance in the conceptual design stage. While a significant amount of research has been conducted into ways to improve interface design to assist in producing creative output, it has been noted that commercial CAD tools can lag one or two decades behind the first demonstration of a new idea in this area [4]. For now, most CAD users must suffice with using the same design tools and interface for conceptual design as they use for detailed design. Meanwhile, the growing competitiveness of the commercial sector and the increasing complexity of systems is creating greater pressure for innovative solutions [5], and hence a greater need for creative performance.

There is growing evidence that the ubiquitous CAD tools that design engineers use in their everyday work are influencing their ability to solve engineering problems creatively, in both positive and negative ways. The positive factors that are most frequently cited (often by the CAD vendors themselves) are that 3D CAD allows a designer to visualise and to “play” [6], [7] with new ideas, that the increased efficiency of the design process allows the designer to spend less time on detail and more time on being creative [8], and that CAD promotes communication between colleagues, enabling richer “group creativity” [9].

While these positive effects are generally accepted and fairly self-evident, the negative effects are more nebulous. Most of the evidence for the negative impact of CAD tools on creativity is anecdotal or indirect, such as that provided by Hanna and Barber [10], Mitchell [11], and Lawson [12]. Lawson argues for the need for an empirical study on the issues. Carkett’s [13] ethnographic study identified a broad range of barriers to creativity in design, but was not specifically focussed on CAD. There have been attempts to make the CAD tool itself exhibit “creative” behaviour that have had some success within well-structured problems but this approach has not had widespread application in practice [14], [15], [16].

This paper fills the need to build on these studies with an empirical exploratory study of the influence of engineering software on creative problem solving in design, focussing on the use of 3D mechanical CAD. An initial, qualitative stage of the research is discussed in the following section, followed by the design of an extensive online survey and then the findings.

Before exploring the topic further, it is necessary to explain what we mean by the term “creativity”. Although it is a common, everyday term, it is difficult to define creativity scientifically. A study by Taylor [17] uncovered more than 60 definitions of creativity in the literature. In this paper, “creativity” is used as shorthand for creative problem solving in engineering design. The meaning it conveys is different to the way in which the term is used in fields such as art, where aesthetics and novelty are important. In the context of this paper it refers to ideas or concepts which are both novel and useful [18], or unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, concepts, or solutions.