Research Methodology for the Internal Observation of Design Thinking through the Creative Self-formation Process

Abstract

In this paper, we present an initial attempt at systemizing knowledge of biological systems from an engineering perspective. In particular, we describe an interactive knowledge-based design environment called DANE that uses the Structure-Behavior-Function (SBF) schema for capturing the functioning of biological systems. We present preliminary results from deploying DANE in an interdisciplinary class on biologically inspired design, indicating that designers found the SBF schema useful for conceptualizing complex systems.