ABSTRACT
Building on the insights presented previously, and connecting the three themes of design technology, design cognition and design environment, this concluding chapter presents a conceptual model, demonstrating the relationship between those three themes. The model provides a formal framework for exploring the implications of computational design and forecasting new developments of future design technology, taking into account both design cognition and design environment. The goal of the model is to provide a formal understanding about computational design and to better support design and designers. The conclusion also discusses future trends for design technology development, and challenges and opportunities for designers in the computational era. Emerging computational design tools provide novel approaches that can assist designers in generating, optimising and communicating design. To effectively utilise these new technologies to provide sound design environments that support designers’ decision making will require evidence drawn from design cognition. The sustainable future development of computational design will require an integrated, well balanced and informed approach considering all three elements.
