What is Generative Design?

I have come across many attempts of defining what it is. Many of them are absurd – especially those published in journals that seek to define generative design within tiny niches of  reserch interests. Outside their confines, I have found some good ones that capture the spirit of generative design – I list them here :


Some good definitions of Generative Design

“Generative design is not about designing the building – Its’ about designing the system that builds a building.” - Lars Hesellgren

 

“Generative design systems are aimed at creating new design processes that produce spatially novel yet efficient and buildable designs through exploitation of current computing and manufacturing capabilities” - Kristina Shea

“ Generative design approach works in imitation of Nature, performing ideas as codes, able to generate endless variations “  - Celestin Soddu

” A basic form, pattern, or object is automatically modified by an algorithm. The result: infinite random modifications of the starting solution (within a solution space set by the designer).” - Frank Piller

“Generative Design Processes is about the modeling of initial conditions of an object (its “genetics”) instead of modeling the final form. ” - Paola Fontana

“An over aching computational method; in essence an incremental specification of design logic in a computational form that eventually yields with a design space open for exploration of alternatives and their variations.” - Halil Erhan

 http://generativedesign.wordpress.com to the host site

While these definitions collectively help describe Generative Design, I have always wondered if there is a better way of defining it – Perhaps defining it at a higher level of abstraction, where it floats above methods and captures its higher purpose.  As a believer in the supremacy of biological design process I tend to look at nature for answers.