System Design and Analysis based on AD and Complexity Theories
MIT OpenCourseWare's graduate course examines what makes a design good and how designers actually get there. It contrasts engineered systems (hardware, software, materials, manufacturing systems) with the emergent design seen in biological systems, then applies two analytical frameworks throughout: Axiomatic Design Theory and Complexity Theory. Case studies cover machine design, tribological systems, materials development, manufacturing systems, and notable recent inventions, with each analyzed for functional requirements, design parameters, and complexity reduction. A closing section extends both theories to biological systems, asking what axiomatic and complexity thinking can explain about natural design that engineering theory alone cannot. Materials include MIT lecture notes and case study readings, consistent with OCW's usual format. No certificate is offered, since MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to course materials without enrollment or credentialing.