PLAYING JIGSAW & One Map Many Ideas

One Map Many Ideas : How Novice Designers Generate Conceptual Designs From An Idea Map

ICF model

DIM creates a concept map made of idea entities (ie) and the links between them.
Each idea entity follows the ICF model (Issue, Concept, Form) and contains three attributes:

I (Issue)

Shown as keywords. This is usually the design task’s main problem—for example in the experiment: “How to introduce natural lighting.”
Issue (I) also plays a key role when designers categorize idea entities.

C (Concept)

Shown as text. This is one of the main attributes designers look at when choosing their preferred idea entity.

F (Form)

Shown as an image or photo. Designers also rely on this attribute when selecting idea entities.

Example:
In a housing design experiment, participants created 50 design ideas in 45 minutes, each built using the ICF attributes.

Linking Relationships

In DIM, agents use their design knowledge to create links between idea entities. There are three types:

Similarity (SI): when two idea entities feel similar
Contrast (CR): when two idea entities feel opposite
Contingency (CI): when the connection is more accidental or unexpected

Dynamic Interaction

The original source doesn’t fully explain the “Script” or “RAs,” but you can think of DIM as a platform where:
Agents (or participants) first categorize idea entities using the Issue (I)
Then they select idea entities based on Concept (C) or Form (F)
Finally, they combine them using SI or CR links
During the design process, DIM supports constant tweaking—modifying, replacing, editing, and re-assembling idea entities.
This helps reveal the hidden patterns behind how designers actually combine ideas.
In the experiment, four typical design combination patterns were found.

A Simple Metaphor

You can imagine DIM like a digital puzzle game:
Puzzle pieces = idea entities
Patterns/colors on each piece = ICF attributes
Puzzle edges that fit together = SI / CR / CI linking relationships

The game goal = agents working together to combine ideas and solve a design problem

Ref

Lai, I.-C., & Chang, T.-W. (2009). One Map Many Ideas : How Novice Designers Generate Conceptual Designs From An Idea Map Proceedings of the 14th Conference on Computer Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA),