A Framework for Comparing Design Modelling Approaches Across Disciplines

Design models are an important means for the representation of design information in product development processes. Designers use design models to visualise and communicate their ideas to other members of a design team, the project manager or a costumer. Communication between experts from different disciplines using design models is often hindered by different terminology and different ways of modelling. Potential consequences are design flaws, which may lead to time-consuming iterations and – if undetected – to problems during production or use. In order to enhance the communication through design models across disciplines, and to address the mentioned problems, an understanding of similarities as well as differences between modelling approaches needs to be established. For that purpose, this paper discusses different design states which represent a distinct level of available information in the development process. They are derived through comparing different design models proposed in literature and provide the basis of a framework for a detailed comparison of modelling approaches across disciplines. Further, first insights into different ways of modelling are discussed.