DOI: 10.18848/2325-1581/cgp/a187 ISSN: 2325-159X

Effects of Digital Tools on Design Cognition in the Conceptual Phase

So Yeon Kim, Seung Jin Chung
Show PDF Cite
The rapid development of digital technology has significantly influenced the entire design process, particularly the conceptual phase, affecting designers’ cognition and creativity. This study systematically reviewed the literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital tools support design cognition in the conceptual design phase and identify future research directions. The findings indicate that individual digital tools offer various advantages, such as providing broader perspectives, facilitating rapid idea development, and enhancing motivation. However, the strength and generalizability of the evidence were constrained by limitations in participant sampling and variation in reliability and validity procedures across studies. The review identified key areas for future research, including exploring the cognitive benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) design tools with designers, applying innovative methods and analyses to understand design cognition, examining the benefits of digital tools in simulated professional design environments, and exploring distributed collaborative design settings. The study highlighted the need for further research to deepen understanding of digital tools and their application in conceptual design.

More from our Archive