Book excerpt: Exploration and Innovation in Design is one of the first books to present both conceptual and computational models of processes which have the potential to produce innovative results at early stages of design. Discussed here is the concept of exploration where the system, using computational processes, moves outside predefined available decisions. Sections of this volume discuss areas such as design representation and search, exploration and the emergence of new criteria, and precedent-based adaptation. In addition, the author presents the overall architecture of a design system and shows how the pieces fit together into one coherent system. Concluding chapters of the book discuss relationships of work in design to other research efforts, applications, and future research directions in design. The ideas and processes presented in this volume further our understanding of computational models of design, particularly those that are capable of assisting in the production of non-routine designs, and affirm that we are indeed moving toward a science of design.