1. Testing the current solution

Axiomatic design can be useful for redesigning a current solution that is judged to be non-optimal in Suh's sense. First and foremost, therefore, we need to test whether or not the current solution meets the stated criterion.

The first series of questions in the proposed test concerns the structure of functional requirements. Are they numerous and thrown together? If so, is it possible to prioritize them? Positive answers to these questions indicate that the prerequisite for axiomatic design has not been met. It is then plausible that the solution design is not optimal in Suh's sense.

Once the structure of the functional requirements has been examined, a second set of questions concerns the possible violation of the first axiom. This involves asking whether the current solution simultaneously performs two contradictory functions, whether...