239 ACADIA 2000: Eternity, Infinity and Virtuality Mass-Customization in Design Using Evolution- ary and Parametric Methods Cristiano Ceccato, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Alvise Simondetti, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Mark C. Burry, Deakin University, Australia Abstract This paper describes a project within the authors’ ongoing research in the field of Generative De- sign. The work is based on the premise that computer-aided design (CAD) should evolve beyond its current limitation of one-way interaction, and become a dynamic, intelligent, multi-user environ- ment that encourages creativity and actively supports the evolution of individual, mass-customized designs which exhibit common features. The authors describe this idea by illustrating the implementation of a research project, which ex- plores the notions of mass-customization in design by using evolutionary and parametric methods to generate families of simple objects, in our case a door handle. The project examines related approaches using both complex CAD/CAM packages (CADDS, CATIA) and a proprietary soft- ware tool for evolutionary design. The paper first gives a short historical and philosophical back- ground to the work, then describes the technical and algorithmic requirements, and concludes with the implementations of the project. 1 Introduction The idea of Mass-Customisation is not a new one. Shipbuilding is a good example of individual designs being borne out of common lore of common, effective design elements. This lore would manifest itself in ‘ship classes’, or families of related designs, in which the basic root scheme reflected the general function of the ship. Brigantine, Cruiser, Battleship, etc. each define a ‘class’ of discernible designs, but the fascination lies in the way how the different designs find different functional advantages, while remaining within their respective classes. In fact, each battleship design, even within a closely related class, was unique, reflecting the newest military knowledge or specific functional modifications. However, to integrate each of these unique features meant alter- ing, or customizing, the root design. It is of particular interest, then, to observe the dissipation of acquired knowledge in time through the evolution of successive designs. The idea of being able to manufacture a family of objects or products which have a common foun- dation in their design, structure and functionality, but are each unique in their individual manifes- tation, has long fascinated architects, designers and engineers. The basic understanding of a design family has always been tied to the notion that within a family variation is possible, indeed desirable and often necessary. This understanding is always inextricably linked to some form of implicit or explicit collection of ‘rules’ or ‘guidelines’ that decree the nature of the produced object. It is the flexibility of operation within the constraints, or ‘parameters’, of these rules that produces a ‘fam- ily’ of objects, and the voluntary or involuntary breaking of these boundaries which either broadens the range of a family or gives rise to a new one. Elements of flexible manufacturing at both the design level and the assembly level have been increas- ingly evident in the last thirty years. These are driven by economic considerations. A good example is the aircraft industry. After the Second World War, manufacturers could no longer afford to offer a