Design paradigm

Design paradigms are models, archetypes, or quintessential examples of of designed solutions to problems. The term "Design paradigm" is used within the design professions to indicate an archetypal solution. Thus a Swiss Army Knife is a design paradigm illustrating the concept of a single object that changes configuration to address a number of problems. Design paradigms have been introduced in a number of books including Design Paradigms: A Sourcebook for Visualization by Wake and Design Paradigms by Petroski.