www.elsevier.com/locate/destud 0142-694X/01 $ - see front matter Design Studies 22 (2001) 169–191 PII: S0142-694X(00)00025-9 169  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain Development and verification of a generic framework for conceptual design Sebastian Macmillan, The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 6 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EB, UK John Steele, The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 6 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EB, UK Simon Austin, Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK Paul Kirby, The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 6 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EB, UK Robin Spence, The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, 6 Chaucer Road, Cambridge, CB2 2EB, UK The rapid and dynamic information and knowledge transfer between designers during the conceptual phase of building projects can result in disorganised behaviour within the team. Team members can become frustrated by the lack of a common understanding of the manner in which the design activity is being performed and the direction in which the process is progressing. Evidence suggests that design teams are better equipped to undertake design activity when in possession of a general programme of events or activities through which they are likely to pass than when no such structuring concept is held. This paper describes the development and verification of a structured framework, which has been generated to aid and support the interdisciplinary team in undertaking conceptual design.  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved Keywords: modelling, conceptual design, design process, interdisciplinary, teamwork T he conceptual phase of any design project is potentially the most vibrant, dynamic and creative stage of the overall design process. However, it is at present the least understood. It is at this early