Effects of Time Pressure and Presence of a Fixating Design Example on Novice Designers' Effective Use of a Matrix Tool in a Design Selection Task

摘要

Does the use of a matrix tool in a design selection task help novice designers select the objectively best design even when they have seen a fixating design and are working under time pressure? The use of matrix tools in a design selection process can improve the selection decision, help identify shortcomings in the concepts, and indicate potential concept combinations. A quantified score for each concept can be calculated using a selection matrix assuming that the customer weights accurately reflect the importance of each function and the performance of each function is accurately measured. In these circumstances, a selection matrix is able to address and eliminate issues of bias in concept selection. Yet, the application of such tools may only be accomplished in introductory design courses in a superficial manner and may be less effective in practice than they could be. Limited time to apply the matrix tool and exposure to a fixating design example are two factors theorized to reduce the likelihood of using a selection matrix and to completing it properly. This study evaluated the ability of novice designers to overcome bias in a design selection process through the use of a selection matrix when time pressure was present vs. absent and when a fixating design was present vs. absent.