| This research compares how practicing engineers and designers collaborate in industry work on design projects as compared to how academic textbooks teach design. Information from design literature textbooks was compared with in-person and over-the-phone interviews from practicing engineers and designers in industry. A case study was conducted through interviews, which allow for live interactions between the researcher and the interviewees to retrieve targeted information specific to the collaborative design research that may be more difficult to attain in written documents. A total of ten interviewees volunteered from three companies to participate in an interview related to design projects, processes, tools, and meetings. Interviews were then deconstructed to quantify results based on specific topics discussed, such as, informal and formal meetings, and collaborative tools used throughout a project. This research gives insight into how, when, and why the interviewees typically design at the three interviewed companies. Results show that only one of the interviewees mentioned the benefits of a design tool but did not apply it during their projects. This contradicts what textbooks suggest by using design tools as the means from which to collaborate. Additionally, the purpose of collaborative design from the perspective of the interviewees is also discussed through the use of formal and informal meetings. According to the interviewees, each meeting type employs a different set of needs when used in the design process. Additional research questions are provided to continue research into the design practices of additional companies and what resources academia can provide for individual designers. |
