Morphological Chart

Keywords
Function
Analytica What Is a Morphological Chart? However, function analysis does not guarantee that
Morphological method The morphological chart (see figure 2.32) is a method all the relevant (sub) functions are identified. Often
Combination to generate ideas in an analytical and systematic a number of solutions to these (sub) functions are
Principal solution manner. already known, while others are thought up by
Usually, functions of the product are taken as a yourself. These solutions will form the components in
starting point. The various functions and subfunctions the morphological chart. The morphological method
of a product can be established through a function thus yields a matrix of functions and components.
fig. 2.32 Example of a Morphological Chart analysis (see ‘Function Analysis’ in this section). Possible components are listed on the basis of their
(from student report) functions. The components are concrete and specific,
specifying the elements that belong to a category
Morphological Chart (i.e. parameter). These components are already
solutions known partially from existing solutions: analogous
products. Functions are listed in columns, and
‘human power’ components are the means that realise the functions
and are listed in rows.
sub functions

stearing

The parameters are identified by focusing on the

transmition
commonalities of components, and describing them
as the characteristics which a product should have,
thus indicating what the product should be; they
surprise
are essential to the solution. The parameters are
independent and abstract, and indicate a category
learning effect
(with no reference to material features).
By means of the morphological chart, the product’s
acceleration purpose is split into a set of (sub)functions. For
each of the (sub)functions ideas are generated and
‘human power’ 2 combined into an overall solution. Through careful
selection and combination of a set of components,
an idea comes about. This idea should be seen as a
stearing 2
principal solution: a carefully chosen combination of
components that together form a conceptual solution.

Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating Product Ideas and Concepts | Morphological Chart – 2.2
 Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating Product Ideas and Concepts | Morphological Chart – 2.2

New components are found by making the abstract a Analysis of the rows is based on rank ordering the How to Use a Morphological Chart?
parameters concrete through the establishment of components per parameter in a first and second Starting Point
technical principles. In this way, the morphological preference. The rank ordering is done against (a part The starting point of a morphological chart is a well-
method is an evolutionary method: parameters and of) the criteria or design requirements. Using only the defined design problem. A function analysis of the
components are evolved in parallel until the final first and second preferences brings down the number product that needs to be designed forms another
morphological chart is made. of components and thus reduces the number of starting point: the product should be described in
solutions. terms of function and subfunctions.
In the end, solution principles are found by choosing b The second evaluation strategy is grouping the
one component from each parameter. In other words, parameters in groups of decreasing importance. Expected Outcome
each combination of components (one component As a first step, only the most important group The expected outcome of the morphological method
being selected from each parameter) suggests a of parameters is evaluated. After one or more is a number of principal solutions (consisting of
solution to the problem. The generation of solutions combinations of components have been chosen, only components) for the initial design problem.
is thus a process of systematically combining these are involved in the evaluation.
components. Possible Procedure
However, the larger the morphological matrix, the When Can You Use a Morphological 1 The problem to be solved must be formulated as
larger the amount of possible solutions (theoretically, Chart? accurately as possible.
a 10 x 10 matrix yields 10,000,000,000 solutions), The morphological chart is usually applied in the 2 Identify all the parameters which might occur in the
which takes much time to evaluate and choose beginning of idea generation. Function analysis is solution (i.e. functions and subfunctions).
from. In order to limit the number of options, two used as a starting point. Not all design problems are 3 Construct a morphological chart (a matrix), with
evaluation strategies are helpful: (a) analysis of the suitable for using the morphological method. The parameters as the columns.
rows and (b) grouping of parameters. morphological chart has been successful in particular
for design problems in the field of engineering design.

How to
Morphological Chart

formulate the identify create matrix fill rows with create principle analyse principle
problem parameters with parameters components solutions solutions
in coloms
 4 Fill the rows with the components that belong to
that particular parameter. Components can be found
by analysing similar products or thinking up new
principles for the parameters (functions).
5 Use the evaluation strategies (analysis of rows and
grouping of parameters) to limit the number of
principal solutions.
6 Create principal solutions by combining at least one
component from each parameter.
7 Carefully analyse and evaluate all solutions
with regard to (a part of) the criteria (design
requirements), and choose a limited number of
principal solutions (at least 3).
8 The principal solutions selected can be developed in
detail in the remaining part of the design process.

Tips and Concerns

• When a combination of components has yielded a
principal solution, be sure to draw all the components
when developing the solution principle in sketches.
• You may be tempted to choose the ‘safe’
combinations of components. Challenge yourself by
making counter-intuitive combinations of components.
• Do not describe the components in words, but use
pictograms or symbols to indicate them.

References and Further Reading

Roozenburg, N.F.M. and Eekels, J. (1995) Product Design:
Fundamentals and Methods, Utrecht: Lemma.

Roozenburg, N. and Eekels, J. (1998, 2nd ed.) Product

Ontwerpen: Structuur en Methoden, Utrecht: Lemma.

Cross, N. (1989) Engineering Design Methods, Chichester:

Wiley.

Delft Design Guide | Part 2 | Creating Product Ideas and Concepts | Morphological Chart – 2.2