Visualization of routes in design process planning

Design process planning is essential for business success. However, it is complex for all but the simplest products. There is therefore a need for effective support for the design process planner to help them visualize and assess alternative design process strategies. The paper describes a new approach to design process planning, known as signposting, which has the potential to assist in the characterization, and hence planning, of a particular design process, by identifying a number of possible design routes. The success of signposting is critically dependent upon the planner´s ability to visualize the emergent process characteristics. A number of route visualization techniques are therefore presented and discussed. The preferred approach is then developed further in an attempt to maximize its visualization potential