On the design of design processes in architecture and engineering : technological rules and the principle of minimal specification

As complexity and scale of design processes in architecture and in engineering increase, as well as the demands on these processes with respect to costs, throughput time and quality, traditional approaches to organise and plan these processes may no longer suffice. In this conceptual article it is argued that more innovative approaches may be needed. The content and nature of process designs is discussed, as well as the design knowledge to make them, and ideas are presented on research approaches to further develop design knowledge that can support more innovative process design. An important type of such design knowledge is the technological rule, to be based on the principle of minimal specification.