Harnessing Multi-Domain Knowledge for User-Centric Product Conceptual Design

Conceptual design is the design phase that deploys product functions and structures based on user requirements and ultimately generates conceptual design solutions. The increasing diversification of products has led to the promotion of customized design that involves deep user participation. As a result, there has been a growing focus on user-centric conceptual design. In this regard, the relationship among users, designers, and design solutions has been subtly changed, which has brought challenges to the traditional designer-oriented design model. To address the complex understanding and decision-making problem caused by deeper user participation, emerging new user-centric product conceptual design models need to be discussed. In the new design model, addressing the changing or growing requirements of users through the design of solutions and leveraging multidisciplinary knowledge to guide the conceptual design process are the critical areas of focus. To further describe this design model, this paper examines the user-centric interconnection among users, designers, design solutions, and multi-domain knowledge. In order to optimize design solutions, the solution resolution process and knowledge mapping based on design deviations are considered effective approaches. In addition, the paper also presents the types of design deviations and the multi-domain knowledge support techniques.