This paper describes a design method based on constructing a genetic/e
volutionary-design model whose idea is borrowed from natural genetics.
Here, two major issues from the modelling involve how to represent de
sign knowledge for the evolutionary design model and the usefulness of
the model for design problems. For the representation of design knowl
edge in the model, a schema concept is introduced. The utility of the
model is based on its computational efficiency and its capability of p
roducing satisfactory solutions for the given set of problem requireme
nts. The design problem used to demonstrate the approach is a large of
fice layout planning problem with its associated topological and geome
trical arrangements of space elements. An example drawn from the liter
ature is used. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Limited. All rig
hts reserved.