Exploring the effectiveness of network-based tools in distributed conceptual design activity

This paper describes a distributed collaborative design project run between the Engineering Design Centre, University of Cambridge and the School of Design, I-long Kong Polytechnic University. The project's aims are to explore and investigate the potential of using network-based tools in design tasks distributed in terms of both time and space. In particular, the project aims to investigate the effectiveness of two network-based tools namely PROSUS and WebCADET in a distributed collaborative design project. PROSUS has been developed specifically to support the capture, storage and retrieval of product and process data including rationale (i.e. design sketches, argumentation, analyses, etc.) as the design evolves during the design process. WebCADET has been developed to assist designers in their decision making tasks, particularly during the early concept stages. The project will involve a small team of researchers from both institutions working asynchronously on the design and development of a new cellular phone concept. It is envisaged that through this project, the researchers will be able to evaluate and test the utility of these two tools and, more generally, better identify methods and techniques for successful distributed collaborative design.