PhD Oral Exam - Ali Mohammadi, Information and Systems Engineering

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

In today's increasingly competitive market, innovation stands as a critical asset for companies striving for enduring success. Developing creative design methodologies that enable designers to systematically and creatively tackle design problems is a crucial aspect of design studies. This study aims to explore TRIZ, a creative approach for tackling design problems, by employing a deductive approach to analyze and enhance its processes.

Initially, we employed the TASKS framework to conduct a comprehensive analysis of TRIZ, seeking to uncover its impact on various dimensions of a designer’s capabilities: knowledge, skill, emotional engagement, and task perception. This thorough examination revealed often-overlooked aspects of TRIZ and highlighted a wide range of factors that may either facilitate or hinder its application throughout the design process.

The latter part of our research concentrated on developing a set of guidelines to advance creative design methodologies, such as TRIZ. In this context, we simulated the design conflict resolution process within the Axiomatic Theory of Design Modeling and identified the diverse thinking styles that could influence this resolution. This led to the formulation of the most effective algorithms for resolving conflicts and the establishment of a structured method to enhance creative design methodologies like TRIZ.

In the last part, we introduced an innovative iteration of TRIZ that integrates concepts from Environment-Based Design and is supported by the Large Language Models. This new framework was meticulously tested to evaluate its effectiveness in enriching the design process and optimizing outcomes for designers facing complex challenges.