The objective of this project is to characterize diverse iterative design processes qualitatively by means of a simple graphical construction. This construction, sometimes referred to as the "basins of attraction," is a graphical summary of how the design process proceeds from many different starting points, or initial designs. Results of this research will provide a global view of iterative design processes - a window through which a wide range of behavior may be observed qualitatively. It will reveal the existence of extreme sensitivity to initial conditions that can plague certain iterative processes. It may prove to be a convenient graphical characterization of specific design phenomenon, such as fully- stressed vs. non-fully-stressed design, or Hardy Cross' hybrid action in design iteration. Perhaps more importantly, it will provide a common denominator with which to compare and contrast very dissimilar design processes, revealing similarities between methods that are not normally considered to be closely related, or conversely, revealing substantial differences between similar processes, such as Newton and quasi-Newton methods.
