Traditionally, aids for designers have been analytical techniques that do not incorporate many of the essential features of the design process. Furthermore, these tools are often based on the assumption that the designer must make a decision among on a fixed number of alternatives. Additional aids are needed for the earlier stages of design when alternative designs are generated and organized. Aids will be created for the preliminary stages of design. The research is based on the assumption (1) that expert designers use measurably different strategies and methods than practitioner designers; and (2) that if tools could be created that would allow practitioner to use the strategies and methods of expert designers, then design practice would be improved. The preliminary research will focus on testing these assumptions. If these assumptions prove valid, design aids will be specified and created.
