Network analysis for concept representation in design activities

Background Designers utilize various methods to represent design concepts in minds. The goal of this study is to observe the process of design activities in various forms and to analyze the relation between representations for deriving the structure and characteristics of the concept with network analysis. Methods Concept design activities and network visualization methods were reviewed theoretically. An experiment was given to participants that represent the concept in three ways of writing, image searching, and sketching. The collected data were coded based on the retrospective protocol analysis. The design concept network model was developed to analyze structures of design concept, and network graphs were visualized by Gephi. Results As a result, it is observed that design concept networks were constructed with several sub-clusters. Nodes in the same clusters are more homogeneous in form and semantics, but less homogeneous than nodes in other clusters. In a comparison of the results between novice and expert groups, network structures of the experts were robust and the diameter was small. On the other hand, novices had relatively weak structures and it was frequently observed isolated nodes. Conclusions It is meaningful that the design concept network model was developed for analyzing various design activities, and the relationship between concept and representations through the case analysis was discussed empirically.