Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

C-K design theory: an advanced formulation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Research in Engineering Design Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

C-K theory is a unified Design theory and was first introduced in 2003 (Hatchuel and Weil 2003). The name “C-K theory” reflects the assumption that Design can be modelled as the interplay between two interdependent spaces with different structures and logics: the space of concepts (C) and the space of knowledge (K). Both pragmatic views of Design and existing Design theories define Design as a dynamic mapping process between required functions and selected structures. However, dynamic mapping is not sufficient to describe the generation of new objects and new knowledge which are distinctive features of Design. We show that C-K theory captures such generation and offers a rigorous definition of Design. This is illustrated with an example: the design of Magnesium-CO2 engines for Mars explorations. Using C-K theory we also discuss Braha and Reich’s topological structures for design modelling (Braha and Reich 2003). We interpret this approach as special assumptions about the stability of objects in space K. Combining C-K theory and Braha and Reich’s models opens new areas for research about knowledge structures in Design theories. These findings confirm the analytical and interpretative power of C-K theory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Notes

  1. A proposition is qualified as “undecidable” relative to the content of a space K if it is not possible to prove that this proposition is true or false in K. The notion of undecidability is well defined in number theory and in computing science (Turing’s undecidability theorem).

  2. This case was developed using C-K theory by our student Michael Salomon during his Major course for the engineering degree at Ecole des Mines de Paris in collaboration with CNRS-LCSR. His work contributed to the material published in Shafirovich et al. (2003).

  3. For example usual major premises in syllogism as “all humans are mortal”.

  4. The rejection of the axiom of foundation was not mentioned in Hatchuel and Weil (2003). It was suggested to us by our student Mathieu le Bellac in his minor dissertation for the Master in management (MODO) at Université Dauphine.

  5. It should be noted that subtracting an attribute is equivalent to adding the negation of this attribute.

  6. The acronym CDP is not mentioned by the authors, but is used here for the sake of concision.

  7. We can also recognize a meta-structure in the logic for “infused design” proposed by Shai and Reich (2004a, b), a model for the aggregation of several knowledge bases in order to support collaborative design.

References

  • Abadi M, Cardelli L (1996) A theory of objects. Springer, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Mahmoud-Jouini S, Charue-Duboc F, and Fourcade F, (2006) Managing creativity process in innovation driven competition. In: Proceedings of the 13th international product development management conference (IPDM), Milano, Italy, pp 111–126

  • Blessing L (2003) What is engineering design research? In: Proceedings of the international conference on engineering design (ICED’03), Stockholm, Sweden, pp 9–10

  • Braha D, Reich Y (2003) Topological structures for modelling engineering design processes. Res Eng Des 14(4):185–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doumas B (2004) Implémentation de la théorie C-K dans le cadre de la gestion d’ontologies. Un outil d’aide à la conception innovante. Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Nantes et Dassault Systèmes, Paris, Nantes

  • Elmquist M, Segrestin B (2007) Towards a new logic for front end management: from drug discovery to drug design in pharmaceutical R&D. J Creat Innov Manage 16(2):106–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evbwuoman NF, Sivaloganathan S, Jebb A (1996) A survey of design philosophy, models, methods and systems. J Eng Manuf 210:301–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fredriksson B (2003) Engineering design-theory and practice. In: Proceedings of the international conference on engineering design (ICED’03), Stockholm, Sweden, pp 7–8

  • Gero JS (1996) Creativity, emergence and evolution in design: concepts and framework. Knowl Based Syst 9(7):435–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatchuel A, Weil B (2003) A new approach of innovative design: an introduction to C-K theory. In: Proceedings of the international conference on engineering design (ICED’03), Stockholm, Sweden, pp 109–124

  • Hatchuel A, Le Masson P, and Weil B (2004) C-K Theory in practice: lessons from industrial applications”.In: Proceedings of the 8th international design conference, Dubrovnik, pp 245–257

  • Hatchuel A, Le Masson P, Weil B (2005) The development of science-based products: managing by design spaces. J Creat Innov Manag 14(4):345–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstader D (1995) Fluid concepts and creative analogies: computer models of the fundamental mechanisms of thought. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Jech T (2002) Set theory, 3rd edn. Springer, Heidelberg

  • Kazakçi AO, Tsoukias A (2005) Extending the C-K design theory: a theoretical background for personal design assistants. J Eng Des 16(4):399–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Masson P, Magnusson P (2002) Toward an understanding of user involvement contribution to the design of mobile telecommunications Services. In: Proceedings of 9th international product development management conference (IPDM). Sophia Antipolis, France, pp 497–511

  • Le Masson P, Weil B, Hatchuel A (2006) Les processus d’innovation. Conception innovante et croissance des entreprises. Hermès, Paris; forthcoming English translation (2009) Strategy and management of innovative design

    Google Scholar 

  • Pahl G, Beitz W (1984) Engineering design, a systematic approach. The Design Council, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich Y (1995) A critical review of general design theory. Res Eng Des 7:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salustri FA (2005) Representing C-K theory with an action logic. In: Proceedings of the international conference on engineering design (ICED’05), Melbourne, Australia

  • Shafirovich E, Salomon M, Gökalp I (2003) Mars Hopper vs Mars Rover. In: Proceedings of the 5th IAA international conference on low-cost planetary missions. Noordwijk, The Netherlands, pp 97–102

  • Shai O, Reich Y (2004a) Infused design: 1 Theory. Res Eng Des 15:93–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Shai O, Reich Y (2004b) Infused design: 2 Practice. Res Eng Des 15:108–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon HA (1969) The sciences of the artificial. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon HA (1979) Models of thought. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon HA (1995) Problem forming, problem finding, and problem solving in design. In: Collen A, Gasparski WW (eds) Design and systems: general application of methodology. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, pp 245–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Suh NP (1990) Principles of design. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa H (1981) General design theory and a CAD system. In: Sata E, Warman E (eds) Man–machine communication in CAD/CAM, North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 35–58

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mines ParisTech, CGS-Centre de Gestion Scientifique, 60 bvd Saint-Michel, 75 272, Paris Cedex 06, France

    Armand Hatchuel & Benoit Weil

Authors
  1. Armand Hatchuel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Benoit Weil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Armand Hatchuel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hatchuel, A., Weil, B. C-K design theory: an advanced formulation. Res Eng Design 19, 181–192 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-008-0043-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00163-008-0043-4

Keywords