Computational models of innovative and creative design processes

Computational support for designing began in the early 1960s, and has had a considerable influence. Only recently has there been the possibility of providing computational support for innovative and creative designing. This paper presents a number of computational models of creative designing; including combination, transformation, analogy, emergence, and first principles as a representative set. It describes them within a uniform framework and indicates the potential of having such models on technological change in a society where designers are the change agents of the physical world. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.