Title: A case study of design imagination in product design

Authors: Kuen-Meau Chen

Addresses: Department of Industrial Design, National United University, 1 Lien Da, Kung Ching Li, Miao Li 360, Taiwan

Abstract: This research was conducted through a literature review, case studies, and interviews with experts on award-winning works in international design competitions. Through qualitative analysis of these design projects, the author identified several paths leading from imaginative constructs to conceptual development in the design process: thematic relationships, conjunctive interpretation, the transfer of attributes, inherited attributes, causal relationships, analogical relationships, multi-level inclusive relationships, and the interpretation of contrasting meaning. Lastly, statistical analysis was used to determine the weight of each conceptual development mode in the design process. Results show that the most significant mode of conceptual development in the overall design process is causal relationships, followed in decreasing order by multi-level inclusive relationships, the interpretation of contrasting meaning, and lastly, the interpretation failure. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a useful reference in design education, particularly with regard to the development of imaginative and creative capacity.

Keywords: design imagination; creative analysis; case study; conceptual development; design process; conceptual combination; product design; design projects; causal relationships; inclusive relationships; contrasting meaning; interpretation failure.

DOI: 10.1504/JDR.2013.055156

Journal of Design Research, 2013 Vol.11 No.2, pp.168 - 185

Received: 31 May 2012
Accepted: 15 Mar 2013
Published online: 28 Jun 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article