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An Anthology of Theories and Models of Design pp 173–195Cite as

Domain Theory, Its Models and Concepts

Abstract

Domain Theory is a systems approach for the analysis and synthesis of products. Its basic idea is to view a product as systems of activities, organs and parts and to define structure, elements, behaviour and function in these domains. The theory is a basis for a long line of research contributions and industrial applications especially for the DFX areas (not reported here) and for product modelling. The theory therefore contains a rich ontology of interrelated concepts. The Domain Theory is not aiming to create normative methods but the creation of a collection of concepts related to design phenomena, which can support design work and to form elements of designers’ mindsets and thereby their practice. The theory is a model-based theory, which means it is composed of concepts and models, which explains certain design phenomena. Many similar theories are described in the literature with differences in the set of concepts but assumingly all valid. The Domain Theory cannot be falsified or proven; but its value may be seen spanning from its range and productivity as described in the article.

Keywords

  • Part Structure
  • Product Family
  • Domain Theory
  • Link Model
  • Coffee Brewing

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the generations of engineering design researchers at the Technical University of Denmark that have contributed to and utilised the Domain Theory. We are in debt to Professor Emeritus Ken Wallace, Cambridge University, and to Professor Christian Weber, University of Ilmenau, for valuable discussions and critiques, and we gratefully acknowledge our colleague Anja Maier for her valuable comments and suggestions contributing to the development of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    Mogens Myrup Andreasen, Thomas J. Howard & Hans Peter Lomholt Bruun

Authors
  1. Mogens Myrup Andreasen
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  2. Thomas J. Howard
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  3. Hans Peter Lomholt Bruun
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Correspondence to Thomas J. Howard .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

    Amaresh Chakrabarti

  2. Campus Limpertsberg, Université du Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Lucienne T. M. Blessing

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Andreasen, M.M., Howard, T.J., Bruun, H.P.L. (2014). Domain Theory, Its Models and Concepts. In: Chakrabarti, A., Blessing, L. (eds) An Anthology of Theories and Models of Design. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6338-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6338-1_9

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