Hi, Damian,
There are two sets of issues in your query. One set of issues covers the
content of whatever design instructions the DNA might transmit. The other
set of issues would cover how the DNA sends those instructions.
Lars Albinsson's response addresses one of these two, the content, and
Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language is good metaphor.
Gunnar Swanson's response on emergence addresses the other, involving how we
assemble and develop patterns.
Looking at both kinds of issues, I'd propose two parallel approaches. One
would cover the what, the content. Pattern Language, Object-Oriented
Programming, Modulor, etc., would be different kinds of collections of
instructions that would work.
The second approach involves looking at complexity theory, systems thinking,
and different kinds of self-organizing systems. Because the how includes the
ways that designers work together within networks that include clients,
customers, other designers, etc., I'd also look into knowledge management,
legitimate peripheral participation, organizational learning, and related
examinations of how people work.
This is an intriguing query. Please let us know what you find out. I'd like
to read it.
Ken Friedman, PhD, DSc (hc), FDRS
Professor
Dean
Swinburne Design
Swinburne University of Technology
Melbourne, Australia
On Mon, 1 Dec 2008 10:52:18 -0500, Damian Rogers <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>I am currently conducting research in the area of using DNA structure in
>living organisms as an analogy to design theory. Since DNA is viewed as
>a set of instructions for life, we can do the same with design and
>create an artificial set of instructions for any artifact we wish to
>create. By using best practices, commonality, regulations, etc and by
>examining current successful designs, we can form a set of artificial
>instructions for nearly any artifact we design and thus help to decrease
>time at or around the concept stage in design.
>
>To use an example as explanation, say we are designing a house in a
>known community. We could start from scratch and look up things like
>building codes, regulations, weather patterns for the area, etc. or
>these things could be somewhat pre-determined via picking certain
>favourable "genes" from the artificial DNA method. So, by examining
>current housing stock, it is possible to come up with the genes that
>give certain characteristics and performance levels. We then create a
>list of genes, taken from currently existing designs, from which we can
>create a newly designed artifact with less effort. So, picking a certain
>"insulation level gene" say from our list, then we are assured a typical
>performance level for that house. This way we didn't have to look up all
>the primary information in order to decide what insulation level we
>need, we just pick it from the list of available genes in the inventory.
>The same can be done for choosing exterior cladding, window to wall
>ratios, flooring, power generation methods, etc. While this method
>doesn't pick the interior wall colour, or layout or other such aspect of
>the house, the designer still has complete freedom of form.
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