Susan Locsin
Nov. 5, 2002
Arch 587
Response on Design Protocols
Design Protocol Data and Novel Design Decisions – Akin & Lin
On the Analysis of Intuitive Design Processes – Eastman
Mr. Eastman’s study was published in 1968 and the Akin & Lin study was published in
1997. It was interesting that the resulting processes described in the Eastman study could
be relatively easily translated to a computerized application whereas the Akin & Lin
study results would be more difficult to computerize. The sequential processing brought
forth in Eastman was representative of the capabilities of computer processing at the
time. With the Akin & Lin article, symmetrical multiprocessing and multi-tasking are
common place in computing.
Since a much greater understanding of brain functioning is coming forth in science today,
why hasn’t anyone taking the functional mapping of the brain and applied it to the
protocol testing of designers? This way we would be able to understand which area of the
brain is being accessed without having to perform artifact evaluation or change the
designer’s process by asking them to talk about what they are doing.
It would be interesting to coordinate the mapping of combined data from both of these
protocols into a project management arrangement. Overlaying the visual drawings, the
restraint additions and the time and type data. This would allow us to create more of a 3rd
or 4th dimensional view of what was going on. I would also be interesting in a detailed
comparison of the designer’s background and experiences. This would help to determine
how much of their knowledge was obtained first or second hand. The difference between
seeing pictures, actual visits or actual design build experience could be correlated to their
knowledge.