Redesigning with axiomatic design

Axiomatic design is an approach to design proposed by Nam-pyo Suh in the late 1970s. The basic idea is that any designer would ensure an optimal design by maintaining the independence of functional requirements (axiom 1) and seeking, for each of them, the solution requiring the least possible information (axiom 2). An optimal design would be decoupled (axiom 1), aligned (every functional requirement is associated with one and only one part of the set of physical parameters) and adjusted (axiom 2).

Axiomatic design is not a method with proven practicality. It remains largely academic and open to debate. However, following it can sometimes provide interesting leads for redesigning a solution that is judged not to satisfy Suh's optimality criteria. This fact sheet describes the two steps involved in implementing axiomatic design in such a context. Finally, it outlines the limits and precautions for use.