The present paper studies the process of information generation during
design and focuses on the relationship between the information importance
and the required effort for its generation. Multiple associative
relationships among design entities (handled as design descriptors) are
used to represent the design knowledge. The characteristics of the
dependent and the primary descriptors are examined and their distinct
roles in the design process are discussed. Term definitions concerning the
information importance and the design effort are also introduced. The
descriptors are used to form a matrix. A number of operations on this
matrix results in its transformation, with the final matrix reflecting the
quantitative relationship between the information importance and the
design effort. From the aforementioned matrix, a unique sorted list for
the primary design descriptors is produced. Following this list during
descriptor instantiation ensures the production of design information of
maximum importance with the least effort in the early design stages. The
design of a belt conveyor is used as a basis for a better understanding of
the theoretical analysis and for a demonstration of the use of the
suggested descriptor list.