This page has verbal-and-visual representations of Integrated Design Method with 3 levels of detail
—    SIMPLIFIED    and    BASIC    and    DETAILED    —
that will help you understand the modes of action (1A,... 4C) and their interactive relationships
in my model of Integrated Design Method, as described in An Overview of Design Method.

 ( There is also an appendix with an earlier version of the basic diagram, and two more cycle-diagrams. ) 

an option:  If you want a “discovery learning” adventure, look at the first diagram below and think about it
(use a piece of paper to cover up the diagrams below initially, and eventually the “hiding” can be controlled by
using the scroll-bar) and let your thinking be stimulated by the different kinds of visual-and-verbal representations.
 


 
Here are five diagrams:
To show that the “cycle” is actually a linear-in-time sequence of events,
A Cycle of Design

and to show the pre-cycle activities, plus more detail about GENERATE and EVALUATE,

A Basic Two-Step Cycle of Design blank spacer gif (no idea-content)

and with more detail-and-accuracy about the entire cycle, especially for EVALUATE,

A Basic Two-Step Cycle of Design - with more detial

and here is a way to show the process-of-design for a Learning Strategy that uses
Quality Checks (for a strategy) and Quality Controls (for a strategy-application):

Design for a Metacognitive Learning Strategy using Quality Checks & Quality Controls


The most useful diagrams are above, but others are below:
this is the basic cycle again, but at the right it's explained in terms of its modes,

Design Cycle

and to explain the thinking-and-actions more clearly,

blank spacer (no content)

and two other diagrams, which could be used for teaching the Cycle of Design, are in an appendix.


diagram for Integrated Design Method


The basic diagram (above) can be simplified to focus attention on the difference between Design and Science, diagram of Design Method that shows the main distinction between Science and Conventional Design

 
and because Science is one type of Design, it's useful to make a distinction between
Conventional Design and Science, which is shown below and is explained in An Introduction to Design.

a Venn Diagram shows the relationship between Design, Conventional Design, and Science


diagram of Design Method, with more detail


The table below is another way to look at the interactive mode-relationships in the diagram above.

GOALS are used as Evaluation Criteria
( define Goals for the Desired Properties of a satisfactory Problem-Solution )
USE - Compare PREDICTIONS vs GOALS
    (Actual Properties vs Desired Properties)    
this is a Quality Check in 3A - for Design
USE - Compare OBSERVATIONS vs GOALS
    (Actual Properties vs Desired Properties)    
this is a Quality Check in 3A - for Design
    Generate & Use OPTIONS    
    that are possible Problem-Solutions    
    Generate & Use PREDICTIONS    
for Actual Properties of OPTION
    Generate & Use OBSERVATIONS    
for Actual Properties of OPTION
Find (Remember or Locate) to
GENERATE Old Options in 2A
    OLD    
Find (Remember or Locate) to
GENERATE Old Predictions in 2A
Find (Remember or Locate) to
GENERATE Old Observations in 2A
    Revise/Invent retroductively to  
GENERATE New Options in 2B
    NEW    
you do a Mental Experiment to
GENERATE New Predictions in 2C
you do a Physical Experiment to
GENERATE New Observations in 2D
PREDICTIONS
for Experimental System
(for Option-Properties & more)
OBSERVATIONS
of Experimental System
(of Option-Properties & more)
    USE - Compare PREDICTIONS & OBSERVATIONS  ( is Reality Check in 3B - for Science ),    
    retroductively search for a match - by selecting an Old Theory, or inventing a New Theory    

APPENDIX

Below is an earlier version of the basic diagram.  It has the same triangle
(formed by Goals, Predictions, Observations, plus their three comparative evaluations)
but it labels the resulting 3 types of feedback (Predictive, Empirical, Hypothetico-Deductive).
But it's missing the bottom level for THEORY(S), and it shows some principles for the actions of
Generating Options (in Modes 2A & 2B) and Designing an Experimental System & Model (for 2D & 2C).

detailed diagram of Integrated Design Method


optional — Here are two other diagrams that could be used to 
supplement or replace the "clearly explain" the third diagram in the "Cycle of Design" section:

simplified diagram #2 of a Design Method Cycle

or

simplified diagram #3 of a Design Method Cycle


for all diagrams, copyright © 1995-2011 by Craig Rusbult, PhD