Optimization for enhancing collaborative design

A computerized model, CoED (Collaboration Enhancing among Design participants) was developed, focusing on the relationships between designers, design variables and design phases. It uses optimization, based on Genetic Algorithm, to decompose these relationships into workgroups of relevant designers and design issues, for each design phase. It identifies intersecting issues between designers, allowing them to be aware of the effects of their decisions on issues relevant to others and enlightening tradeoff options for each one so that conflicts may be avoided and controlled. CoED takes into account the way different designers regard design variables, and it's change through the design process, after decisions have been made. This supports a circular process, which is a more appropriate procedure for design.