Describing information use in engineering design processes using a diagrammatic model

Methods and tools to support engineering design should be based on an understanding of how it is conducted in practice and how information is used in the design process. The development of better tools and methods could thus be facilitated by a better understanding of information use in design practice. This paper explores how information use in design could be captured in-situ by process participants using a diagrammatic node-link modelling tool. Through literature review we synthesise a 'language' of concepts which we propose can be used by designers to describe information use in their work. The language contains classes for describing concepts in the product, process, specification and rationale domains. It is implemented in a diagrammatic modelling tool, which we illustrate by application to describe a design process fragment as conducted in a UK manufacturing company. We argue that studying the models designers create using this tool could provide insights into information use in practice and thereby support development of better design process support approaches.