This project creates and evaluates new visualization techniques of models from a concept generator to stimulate the designer to generate concepts not originally posed by designer or computer. This technology is expected to enable the development of creative solutions to design problems that would otherwise go undiscovered. The three challenges to achieving effective visualization for enhancing creative design at the concept generation phase are: 1) how to cluster the many concept variants returned from an automated concept generation algorithm into a manageable set of representative concepts that spans the design alternative space; 2) how to visually represent the option space to the designer so that it enhances creativity; and 3) how to measure the impact of the visualization schemes on designer creativity. This exploratory research, if successful, offers the opportunity to transform how we design products and systems and how we guide any designer to a creative new product.
