On the Axiomatic Foundation of Design

Abstract

Abstract Mechanical design methodology has its origins in the writings of ancient Greek and Alexandrine authors between 300 BC and 100 AD when also the first aesthetic theory was proposed. German authors of the middle of 19th Century have introduced the foundation for Mechanical Design on basic Design Principles, modernized the machine element methodology and introduced the parallel development of the function with the form. F. Redtenbacher introduced a set of design principles. Reuleaux (1852) introduced two fundamental Design Principles (Ground Rules), re-introduced recently in axiomatic form by Suh et al. The paper discusses the merits of establishing Design Principles or Design Axioms as the fundamental Rules of design and the implications of these Rules on the design and manufacturing methodology. The relation of the Design Rules with the principles of the total quality engineering in the Taguchi sense is also investigated.