Research in Engineering Design

, Volume 10, Issue 3, pp 141–149 | Cite as

Expertise in engineering design

  • Nigel Cross
  • Anita Clayburn Cross
Article

Abstract

Most studies of designer behavior are limited to studies of novice or average-ability designers. We have studied two outstanding, expert designers, and are able to draw some parallels between their design strategies. We note that they both take a systemic view of the design situation, choose to frame their view of the problem in a challenging way, and draw upon first principles to guide both their overall concept and detailed design. Studying expert designers should enable us to identify the seeds of ‘best practice’. This should be useful in design practice and in education, for guiding the development of better-than-average designers.

Keywords

Expertise Engineering design Problem framing 

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag London Limited 1998

Authors and Affiliations

  • Nigel Cross
    • 1
  • Anita Clayburn Cross
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Design and Innovation, Faculty of TechnologyThe Open UniversityMilton KeynesUK

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