Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Computer Science, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-100).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Computer Science, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-34).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. [132]-134).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 76 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Computer Science, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-95).

Diss. Nr. 11648 techn. Wiss. ETH Zürich. / Literaturverz.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-68). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

The aim of this research was to investigate strategies for the support of design exploration, in particular, how computer based technology could contribute to this activity during the early phase of design. The research comprised of the design and development of three software prototypes, the later versions of which enabled discussions with design professionals concerning the underpinning approach of the work. Three case studies of design practice were undertaken. These focused on the interdependencies between freehand drawing, physical modelling and CAD. Based on the research it was concluded that computer based support for exploration during the early phase of design was viable and that the generation of alternative solutions played a key role in the process. Furthermore, the approach offered by shape grammars provided a generative mechanism that was both grounded in the discipline of design and amenable to representation in a computer based system. Finally, it was concluded that the introduction of a 'controlled irregularity' into the resulting design alternatives increased their likelihood of encouraging design exploration.

This thesis presents research into the possibility of developing a computerised system that can evaluate the aesthetics and engineering aspects of solid shapes. One of the research areas is also to include such an evaluation system into an existing evolutionary CAD system which utilizes the Genetic Algorithms (GAs) technology. An extensive literature survey has been carried out to better understand and clarify the vagueness and subjectivity of the concept of aesthetics, which leads to the work of defining and quantifying a set of aesthetic parameters. This research achieves its novelty in aiming to assist designers in evaluating the aesthetics and functional aspects of designs early in the conceptual design stage, and its inclusion into an evolutionary CAD system. The field of Computer Aided Design (CAD) lacks the aesthetics aspect of the design, which is very crucial in evaluating designs especially considering the trend towards virtual prototypes replacing physical prototypes. This research has managed to suggest, define and quantify a set of aesthetic and functional elements or parameters, which will be the basis of solid shape evaluation. This achievement will help designers in determining the fulfilment of design targets, where the designers will have a full control to determine the priority of each evaluation element in the developed system. In achieving this, computer software including a programming language package and CAD software are involved, which eventually led to the development of a prototype system called Computer Aided Aesthetics and Functions Evaluation (CAAFE). An evolutionary CAD system called Evolutionary Form Design (EFD), which utilizes GAs, has been available for few years now. It evolves shapes for quick and creative suggestions, however it lacks the automated evaluation and aesthetics aspects of the design. This research has worked into the integrating of CAAFE into EFD, which led to a system that could evolve objects based on a selected and weighed aesthetic and functional elements. Finally, surveys from users have also been presented in this thesis to offer improvement to the scoring system within the CAAFE system.