**2. Knowledge in design**

Knowledge is essential for design derivation in all processing phases: pre-design reasoning, design development and post-design evaluation, as well as in the linkage of all of these in recursive refinement cycles. Major tasks, especially in the pre-design phase, consist of basic prototypical ingredients such as component analysis, relational matrices, topological studies, zoning diagrams and sequential flow charts. Despite the common structure underlying their applications, many design-related knowledge-based activities are redundantly repeated in various design assignments. As such, recycling and transforming knowledge within and between disciplines become increasingly necessary to eliminate redundant repetitions and to facilitate accessing and applying previous knowledge to new designs. In this chapter, examples of knowledge recycling and transformation are demonstrated and discussed.

Within the scope of this chapter, knowledge management is studied in the context of engineering design. It includes methods for recycling, transformation, networking and modeling of the data underlying design processing tasks.

Research in design knowledge management is significant for design theory, practice and education. On the theoretical level, the study introduced in this chapter aims to reveal new

Knowledge Recycling and Transformation in Design 67

These eight design-related knowledge management areas are illustrated in Figure 2. They are represented as a knowledge management octagon where the transition from one station into the next requires additional layers of interpretation to clarify its premises and present its processing phases and resultant products. Some of these areas were emphasized in previous researches (Eilouti, 2007, 2009, 2011). However, the recycling octagon introduced in Eilouti, 2009 is revised here to fit the context of this chapter. In this revised octagon, the design knowledge processing sequence starts with design analysis, where knowledge from documented designs in previous case studies can be extracted, analyzed and assessed to prepare reusable parts for the generation of new knowledge. Upon its extraction, the analyzed design knowledge needs organization to categorize its contents based on predefined criteria and goals. Based on knowledge organization, it becomes possible to model knowledge either in easier to understand abstract models, or in easier to implement applied models. Knowledge is then represented in applicable models which, in turn, can be applied to produce new designs. This cycle from knowledge analysis to modeling uses layers and components of knowledge in an inductive reasoning approach to conclude wholes from

4. Knowledge derivation 5. Knowledge implementation 6. Knowledge communication 7. Knowledge documentation , and

8. Knowledge evaluation

Fig. 1. Knowledge recycling pentagon

models that form sources of inspiration for concept derivation and to help in the transformation of abstract knowledge constructs into applied design models.

On the practical level, when clear transformation and recycling methods and models are described, the applied knowledge developed from the abstract knowledge constructs can be implemented to derive more optimum processes and perhaps more innovative designs.

On the pedagogical level, this research may contribute to mapping complex problems to potential solutions through grouping combinations of sub-models to generate various alternative solutions; or through using existing models in other fields of study as points of departure for problem-solving in design. Each of the developed transformation and mapping methods may provide guidance with which designers and students can avoid the problem of repeating previous solutions and reach satisfactory design solutions with relative ease and speed. In addition, the generated hybrid and cross-disciplinary models are expected to contribute to the education of design through explicit and externalized templates. Knowledge recycling and transforming models aim to contribute to new systematic design derivation methods and to explore new sources of inspiration and innovation in design.

As an extension of this research, the applicable models and processes can be developed into computer aids that may assist designers generate their products more efficiently. These automated aids may be built as blocks and hyper-linked documents. They can also form a basis for a knowledge base for design problem solving and derivation.
