Multi-objective analysis of a component-based representation within an interactive evolutionary design system

This article describes research relating to a user-centered evolutionary design system that evaluates both engineering and aesthetic aspects of design solutions during early-stage conceptual design. The experimental system comprises several components relating to user interaction, problem representation, evolutionary search and exploration and online learning. The main focus of the article is the evolutionary aspect of the system when using a single quantitative objective function plus subjective judgment of the user. Additionally, the manner in which the user-interaction aspect affects system output is assessed by comparing Pareto frontiers generated with and without user interaction via a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). A solution clustering component is also introduced and it is shown how this can improve the level of support to the designer when dealing with a complex design problem involving multiple objectives. Supporting results are from the application of the system to the design of urban furniture which, in this case, largely relates to seating design.