====== Design Space ======


//Design space// is a concept from engineering design: the collection of all possible designs for a thing, considered as a high-dimensional [[wp>Space_(mathematics)|space]] parametrized by design decisions. This concept is intimately related to design [[:analysis:concept:optimization|Optimization]], since a space of possible designs must be identified before an optimal design can be selected. The use of a spatial metaphor allows evolution to be visualized as a trajectory in design space. See [[evolution_as_algorithm]] and [[:books:darwins_dangerous_idea|Darwin's Dangerous Idea]].


Design space also implies the idea of a [[:analysis:concept:tradeoff|Tradeoff]] because a design with one or more desirable properties may be feasible (in the design space), but any single design cannot be optimized for all qualities simultaneously.


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