design-by-analogy
DesignComplete DBA process: problem reframe → source search → map → transfer → adapt. Full Design-by-Analogy methodology for systematic analogical design.
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Design by Analogy
Complete Design-by-Analogy (DBA) process following the full methodology: problem reframe → source search → structural mapping → principle transfer → target adaptation.
State Ledger
| Resource | Target | Current | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| web-search | 30 | 0 | 0% |
| web-research | 10 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-overview | 30 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-search | 20 | 0 | 0% |
| paper-research | 10 | 0 | 0% |
HARD-GATE
Cannot exit strategy until ≥80% of each budget line is consumed OR yield targets are met with justification for remaining budget.
Available Tactics
| Tactic | Role |
|---|---|
| analogy-extraction | Core tactic — full analogy extraction pipeline |
| domain-divergence | Maximize source domain diversity |
| bridge-validation | Validate analogy quality before transfer |
Available SOPs
| SOP | Role |
|---|---|
| domain-scanning | Search for analogous source domains |
| abstraction-extraction | Extract abstract design principles from source |
| structural-mapping | Map source→target structural correspondences |
| analogy-quality-assessment | Assess analogy depth and transfer viability |
| transfer-adaptation | Adapt transferred principle to target constraints |
| cross-domain-synthesis | Synthesize DBA outputs into design proposals |
Execution Guidance
- Problem reframe: Restate the design problem in function-behavior-structure terms
- Source search: Use domain-scanning across ≥5 distant domains (biology, architecture, materials, social systems, etc.)
- Abstract sources: Extract design principles from each source using abstraction-extraction
- Map structure: Apply structural-mapping to align source→target
- Assess quality: Use analogy-quality-assessment — require STRUCTURAL or SYSTEMIC depth
- Transfer: Carry principles from source to target domain
- Adapt: Use transfer-adaptation to fit principles to target constraints and physics
- Validate: Confirm adapted solution is feasible in target domain
- Synthesize: Produce structured DBA design report via cross-domain-synthesis
Available Tactics
Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.
| Tactic | When to use |
|---|---|
| bridge-validation | Validate analogy depth and transfer viability. Ensures only deep structural analogies (not surface-level similarities) proceed to transfer. |
| domain-divergence | Scan and select maximally diverse source domains. Ensures creative search covers genuinely unrelated fields with high transfer potential. |
Available SOPs
Optional, no fixed order; the final leaf is always a sop.
| SOP | When to use |
|---|---|
| abstraction-extraction | Extract abstract principles from concrete domain cases. Strips domain-specific details to reveal transferable mechanisms. |
| analogy-quality-assessment | Assess analogy depth (surface/structural/systemic). Determines whether an analogy warrants transfer investment. |
| cross-domain-synthesis | Synthesize all cross-domain findings into a structured idea report. Integrates outputs from all strategies and SOPs. |
| structural-mapping | Map source→target structural correspondences. Identifies corresponding, missing, and extra elements between domains. |
| transfer-adaptation | Adapt transferred principle to target problem constraints. Produces concrete adapted solutions from abstract principles. |