Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design
Elegance is often invoked as a characteristic of good design, but it cannot be pursued as a design objective because of the absence of actionable definitions that can be translated into design strategies and metrics. In this work, we analyze elegance in the context of systems engineering using a per...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Complexity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5987249 |
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| _version_ | 1832556126049140736 |
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| author | Luca Iandoli Letizia Piantedosi Alejandro Salado Giuseppe Zollo |
| author_facet | Luca Iandoli Letizia Piantedosi Alejandro Salado Giuseppe Zollo |
| author_sort | Luca Iandoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Elegance is often invoked as a characteristic of good design, but it cannot be pursued as a design objective because of the absence of actionable definitions that can be translated into design strategies and metrics. In this work, we analyze elegance in the context of systems engineering using a perspective that integrates visual art, Gestalt psychology, neuroscience, and complexity theory. In particular, we measure elegance as effective complexity and theorize that it can be achieved by a process of complexity resolution based on the adoption of eight visual heuristics. We present an empirical study in which a sample of systems engineers were asked to assess alternative representations of a same system and show that effective complexity is strongly correlated to perceived elegance and systems effectiveness. Our results are consistent with independent findings obtained in other fields including design and psychology of perception showing that good design must embed an effective level of complexity achievable through a mix of familiarity and novelty. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb7c978a680f4958932987adc231c86d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1076-2787 1099-0526 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Complexity |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb7c978a680f4958932987adc231c86d2025-02-03T05:46:20ZengWileyComplexity1076-27871099-05262018-01-01201810.1155/2018/59872495987249Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems DesignLuca Iandoli0Letizia Piantedosi1Alejandro Salado2Giuseppe Zollo3Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science, St. John’s University, New York City, NY, USADepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyGrado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USADepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, ItalyElegance is often invoked as a characteristic of good design, but it cannot be pursued as a design objective because of the absence of actionable definitions that can be translated into design strategies and metrics. In this work, we analyze elegance in the context of systems engineering using a perspective that integrates visual art, Gestalt psychology, neuroscience, and complexity theory. In particular, we measure elegance as effective complexity and theorize that it can be achieved by a process of complexity resolution based on the adoption of eight visual heuristics. We present an empirical study in which a sample of systems engineers were asked to assess alternative representations of a same system and show that effective complexity is strongly correlated to perceived elegance and systems effectiveness. Our results are consistent with independent findings obtained in other fields including design and psychology of perception showing that good design must embed an effective level of complexity achievable through a mix of familiarity and novelty.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5987249 |
| spellingShingle | Luca Iandoli Letizia Piantedosi Alejandro Salado Giuseppe Zollo Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design Complexity |
| title | Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design |
| title_full | Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design |
| title_fullStr | Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design |
| title_short | Elegance as Complexity Reduction in Systems Design |
| title_sort | elegance as complexity reduction in systems design |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/5987249 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucaiandoli eleganceascomplexityreductioninsystemsdesign AT letiziapiantedosi eleganceascomplexityreductioninsystemsdesign AT alejandrosalado eleganceascomplexityreductioninsystemsdesign AT giuseppezollo eleganceascomplexityreductioninsystemsdesign |