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, we identified several paths leading from imaginative constructs to conceptual development in the design process: thematic relationships, intersecting attributes, 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, thematic relationships, the transfer of attributes, analogical relationships, inherited attributes, intersecting attributes, and lastly, the transfer of attributes. 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.
ICDC2012 Glasgow
ICDC2012 Glasgow
