New Design Algorithm: Interactive-Generative Product Design for Shape Generation and Optimization

This paper proposes a new approach of interactive-generative product design process based on parametric shape grammar and genetic algorithm. The proposed design algorithm aims to be used in generating a set of various design alternatives in early-stage design exploration and assisting designers in design parameter optimization in the detailed design stage. Parametric shape grammar is used to frame the product’s shape schema in terms of parameters and used to control shape generation in three-dimensional (3D) parametric modelling. Genetic algorithm is used in design parameter optimization according to the design objective. The interactive approach offers designers the opportunity to select and evaluate the generated design alternatives. This approach has the potential to transform the product design process by enabling designers to explore a much wider range of possibilities than would be possible through traditional methods. With the use of the proposed approach, designers can apply the 3D generated design alternatives to initialize the conceptual design and be able to directly build physical models in line. Therefore, the proposed approach can shorten product design process and generate various design solutions to meet the diverse needs of customers in mass customization strategies. In this paper, the pendant light demonstrates an illustration of the proposed approach, which is also applicable to other design problems.