Concept as a Bridge between Abstraction and Concretization in Design Knowledge Visualization

A framework for concept processing is introduced and discussed. It comprises the major phases of concept development from raw data into final products. It is enhanced by the main tasks needed to proceed from one stage into the next and by the main areas of focus in each phase. Concept derivation represents the core of the concept processing framework. Consequently, it is represented as the main nexus between knowledge abstraction and concretization in design. Eight methods of concept derivation are described. In addition, eight elements of concept translation into tangible design products are presented. The concept generation and translation process is illustrated by an example of framework implementation. The scope of the research is architectural design, but many components of the framework may be applicable to other design fields.