Design process and knowledge possibilities and limitations of computer-aided design

An attempt to determine how computers can be used to assist designers resulted in the development of a design theory, according to which design is'feeling and thinking while acting.'Design is theorized as living through one's imagination, however being continuously affected by real life itself. The design process is decomposed into elementary activities that are characterized with respect to the nature of knowledge requirements and the degree to which they can be specified and delegated to computers. The results are considered as criteria to determine possibilities and limitations of computer-aided design. An integration of a variety of computer applications tools is proposed towards the design and development of a computer-based Design Support Environment (DSE), that is applicable to any design domain. The proposed DSE automates all specifiable and delegable design activities, while assisting with the nondelegable ones through appropriate user interface. A DSE demonstration prototype is also presented in the Appendix. This prototype addresses the design of fenestration and electric lighting systems of office spaces with respect to comfort, energy and cost.