The Cognitive Costs of Design Tasks: Examining Cognitive Load Through Verbal and Physical Indicators

Abstract Prior work has demonstrated that design tasks can be cognitively demanding, due to the inherent ambiguity and complexity of design problems. Few studies, however, have examined the evolution of cognitive load during the engineering design process and the linkages between subdimensions of cognitive load and design task outcomes. To address this gap, the current work investigates the evolution of cognitive load across two distinct design tasks: ideation and prototyping, and the relationship between cognitive load and design task outcomes. Results suggest that there is a significant difference in cognitive load experienced by the designer during ideation and prototyping. Additionally, findings suggest that cognitive load during ideation is positively correlated with the uniqueness, usefulness, and elegance of ideas.