Design Fixation and Its Mitigation: A Study on the Role of Expertise

Abstract

Engineering idea generation plays a vital role in the development of novel products. Prior studies have shown that designers fixate to the features of example solutions and replicate these features in their ideas. This type of fixation acts as a major hindrance in idea generation, as it restricts the solution space where designers search for their ideas. Building upon the study by Linsey et al. [2010, “A Study of Design Fixation, Its Mitigation and Perception in Engineering Design Faculty,” ASME Trans. J. Mech. Des., 132, 041003], this study hypothesizes that designers fixate to example features and this fixation can be mitigated using certain defixation materials including alternate representations of the design problem. To investigate this, the experiment conducted by Linsey et al. [2010] with engineering design faculty is replicated with novice designers. Participants generate ideas for a design problem in three groups: one group working with a fixating example, a second group working with the same example along with alternate representations of the design problem and a control group. The obtained results show that both the novice designers and design faculty fixate to the same extent, whereas the defixation materials have differential effect on the two groups. This result indicates that design researchers need to be very careful in developing methods and guidelines that are formulated and tested with studies on novice designers. The effectiveness of such measures may vary with the level of expertise of the designer.

The implication of rapid technologies on the design process

“…However, it might be argued that the experience of variety discourages fixation because of a designers' awareness of available solutions, hence they will manage to avoid fixation. This argument was supported by some researchers, where they found that the high level of expertise hinder fixation compared to lower expertise level (Bilalić et al, 2008a;Viswanathan & Linsey, 2013;Dror ,2011).…”

“…In psychology, fixation was related to functional fixedness , or the Einstellung effect (Bilalić et al, 2016; or the counter sunk effect (Viswanathan & Linsey, 2013). Different classifications were used to categorize fixation .…”

“…Conscious fixation was linked to functional fixedness where designers experience difficulty in finding new use or function for existing objects or features to solve problem . Intentional resistance was related to the counter sunk effect where least resistance path is preferred to generate solutions (Viswanathan & Linsey, 2013). The preference of least resistance path was justified by inefficiency of investing time and effort on a new solution if there is already a good one ; limiting creativity.…”

“…The effect of prior art and designer commitment to initial solutions on fixation were the focus of experimental studies Bilalić et al, 2016;Viswanathan & Linsey, 2013; .…”

“…Studies showed that the role of designer expertise in creating fixation was linked mainly to their experience of failure and their interaction with a variety of prior solutions Viswanathan & Linsey, 2013). The designer's experience of failure made them reluctant to change preexisting reliable solution paths, or a particular solution .…”