Prasad Bokil

Bio: Prasad Bokil is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. The author has contributed to research in topics: Grid & Graphic design. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 15 publications receiving 40 citations. Previous affiliations of Prasad Bokil include Indian Institutes of Technology & Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.

Reaching Out in the Mind's Space

Abstract: Studies on blindfolded designers/architects have thrown light on their amazing abilities of creating a virtual model in their mind’s eye and physically interacting and manipulating it. However, these studies suffer from the limitations that the interactions were highly restricted by the experimental settings. This paper explores the potentials of blindfolded architects using their body to interact with the virtual architectural spaces that they create in their mind’s eye while designing. The results reveal two major strategies used by architects, moving the visualizations in sync with the bodies and moving within the fixed visualizations. The paper also details the nuances of how architects interacted with these visualizations.

Anatomy of Bengali Letterforms: A Semiotic Study

Abstract: The anatomy of letterforms defines the structural formation of letters. The study is based on semiotic approach. The methods used here are Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic analysis. The anatomy is developed through analysis based on the work on Latin letterforms from three different aspect which are structural grid lines, anatomical features and parameters. This syntagmatic analysis is yielded in identification of various structural features of letterforms like terminal, bowl, blob, stem, dot or nukta, ascender and descender. The analysis has been carried out using two techniques, repeated forms and unique forms of letters. The paradigmatic analysis discusses the comparative study of structure and feature of letterforms across different typefaces such as Lohit Bengali, Vrinda, Solaimanlipi and etc. The analysis offers distinct anatomical nomenclatures after analyzing paradigmatic transformations. Further the study categorizes the letterforms according to the appearance of common features.

Function−Behavior−Structure Representation of the Grids in Graphic Design

Abstract: Grid in graphic design is a well-known tool. It is used for planning and creating graphical layouts. Though lot of empirical literature on grids is available through various case studies and visual samples, there is hardly any articulation of the design process involving grids. This paper tries to present the formalism for design knowledge in application of grids in graphic design. The function-behaviour-structure framework is applied to grids for the understanding of design process. This framework is used to create a conceptual model for a grid in action and to define its variables. To demonstrate its significance, the potential advantages of this new approach are discussed.

Title Design in Bollywood Film Posters: A Semiotic Analysis

Abstract: Indian cinema comprises films produced across India in different languages. Bollywood, a Hindi cinema industry based in Mumbai, is the biggest entertainment industry in India. It shows a diverse and dynamic pattern of visual culture. One can experience this fluid panorama of visual culture through film posters. Over the decades, film posters have been one of the major medium for film publicity. It features images and text to create firsthand visual experience to its audience. As a key element of film poster, title design plays an important role in connoting the theme of the film. It has evolved under influence of various factors like, socio-cultural context, technology and usages. The impact of this development can be seen in terms of technique, composition, color and expressive typography. This paper aims to study and analyze the title design in Bollywood film posters using semiotics framework. Analysis is done based on its structural parameter, relationship with the theme of film, context of use and production technique.

Design Prototypes: A Knowledge Representation Schema for Design

Abstract: A prevalent and pervasive view of designing is that it can be modeled using variables and decisions made about what values should be taken by these variables. The activity of designing is carried out with the expectation that the designed artifact will operate in the natural world and the social world. These worlds impose constraints on the variables and their values; so, design could be described as a goal-oriented, constrained, decision- making activity. However, design distinguish- es itself from other similarly described activities not only by its domain but also by additional necessary features. Designing involves exploration, exploring what variables might be appropriate. The process of explo- ration involves both goal variables and deci- sion variables. In addition, designing involves learning: Part of the exploration activity is learning about emerging features as a design proceeds. Finally, design activity occurs within two contexts: the context within which the designer operates and the context produced by the developing design itself. The designer’s perception of what the context is affects the implication of the context on the design. The context shifts as the designer’s perceptions change. Design activity can be now characterized as a goal-oriented, con- strained, decision-making, exploration, and learning activity that operates within a con- text that depends on the designer’s percep- tion of the context.

A systematic review of protocol studies on conceptual design cognition: Design as search and exploration

Abstract: This paper reports findings from the first systematic review of protocol studies focusing specifically on conceptual design cognition, aiming to answer the following research question: What is our current understanding of the cognitive processes involved in conceptual design tasks carried out by individual designers? We reviewed 47 studies on architectural design, engineering design, and product design engineering. This paper reports 24 cognitive processes investigated in a subset of 33 studies aligning with two viewpoints on the nature of designing: (V1) design as search (10 processes, 41.7%); and (V2) design as exploration (14 processes, 58.3%). Studies on search focused on solution search and problem structuring, considered to involve: long term memory retrieval; working memory; and a range of operators. Reasoning processes are also examined. Studies on exploration investigated: (i) co-evolutionary design; (ii) visual reasoning processes; (iii) cognitive actions; and (iv) unexpected discovery and situated requirements invention. Overall, considerable conceptual and terminological differences were observed among the studies. Nonetheless, a common focus on memory, semantic, associative, visual perceptual, and mental imagery processes was observed to an extent. We suggest three challenges for future research to advance the field: (i) developing general models and theories; (ii) testing protocol study findings using objective methods conducive to larger samples; and (iii) developing a shared ontology of cognitive processes in conceptual design.

Engineering Design: Representation and Reasoning

Abstract: Contrary to popular mythology, the designs of favorable products and successful systems do not appear suddenly, or magically This second edition of Engineering Design demonstrates that symbolic representation and related problem-solving methods, offer significant opportunities to clarify and articulate concepts of design to lay a better framework for design research and design education Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a substantial body of material concerned with understanding and modeling cognitive processes This book adopts the vocabulary and a paradigm of AI to enhance the presentation and explanation of design It includes concepts from AI because of their explanatory power and their utility as possible ingredients of practical design activity This second edition has been enriched by the inclusion of recent work on design reasoning, computational design, AI in design, and design cognition, with pointers to a wide cross section of the current literature

Towards a shared ontology: a generic classification of cognitive processes in conceptual design

Abstract: Towards addressing ontological issues in design cognition research, this paper presents the first generic classification of cognitive processes investigated in protocol studies on conceptual design cognition. The classification is based on a systematic review of 47 studies published over the past 30 years. Three viewpoints on the nature of design cognition are outlined (search, exploration and design activities), highlighting considerable differences in the concepts and terminology applied to describe cognition. To provide a more unified view of the cognitive processes fundamentally under study, we map specific descriptions of cognitive processes provided in protocol studies to more generic, established definitions in the cognitive psychology literature. This reveals a set of 6 categories of cognitive process that appear to be commonly studied and are therefore likely to be prevalent in conceptual design: (1) long-term memory; (2) semantic processing; (3) visual perception; (4) mental imagery processing; (5) creative output production and (6) executive functions. The categories and their constituent processes are formalised in the generic classification. The classification provides the basis for a generic, shared ontology of cognitive processes in design that is conceptually and terminologically consistent with the ontology of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. In addition, the work highlights 6 key avenues for future empirical research: (1) the role of episodic and semantic memory; (2) consistent definitions of semantic processes; (3) the role of sketching from alternative theoretical perspectives on perception and mental imagery; (4) the role of working memory; (5) the meaning and nature of synthesis and (6) unidentified cognitive processes implicated in conceptual design elsewhere in the literature.