Parametric design has become an emerging research issue in the design domain. However,
our current understanding of creativity in the parametric design process is very limited.
This study presents a formal approach for describing and identifying cognitive thinking and
activities for evaluating creativity in parametric design process using protocol analysis.
This coding scheme is based on the creative acts: Representation, Perception, and
Searching for a solution. Also, it provides Geometry and Algorithm categories to capture
the cognitive activity in the parametric design process. The effectiveness of this formal
approach was examined in a pilot study. The percentage of coverage of geometric and
algorithmic cognitions results in a better understanding of the parametric design process
over a time period. The normalised value of the coverage percentage allows us to explore
three levels of design cognition in terms of creativity. This research contributes to the
development and verification of a formal approach for evaluating creativity in parametric
designing. With this formal approach, this research provides a promising procedure, not
yet available, of capturing cognitive activity and identifying creative patterns in the
parametric design process.
DRS 2012 Bangkok
