Evolution of Design Ideas and Artifacts as Their Phenotype

Abstract

Evolutionary theory is applicable in design as well as biology. In this paper, we discuss evolutionary design based on cultural evolution theories. Design comprises of two parts: one is ideas on function, and the other is artefacts developed based on such ideas. We argue that design ideas do evolve, whilst artefacts are not the unit of natural selection. The relationship between design ideas and their resulting artefacts are analogous to genotype and phenotype in biological research. Phenotype is what living object looks like, such as arms eyes, and behaviours. Phenotype sometimes refer to the production of living organisms, such as bird's nest and beaver's dam. These so-called 'extended phenotypes' do not include artefacts which are the phenotypes of cultural genes. If they were, the fitness of the artefacts should have affected the prosperity of the manufacturers and the designers of the artefacts.