Technique for generating approximate design solutions

A computer-implemented method for generating an approximate solution to a design problem, the method comprising:

• generating design problem geometry associated with a design problem;
• synthesizing a problem specification based on the design problem geometry and a set of design criteria;
• determining that the problem specification satisfies minimum input requirements for a first solution engine resident within a client computing device;
• executing the first solution engine to generate an approximate solution to the problem specification, wherein the approximate solution includes a first set of design solutions;
• displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI), the approximate solution;
• and
• after displaying the approximate solution, transmitting the problem specification to a second solution engine resident within a server machine to generate a second set of design solutions, wherein the second solution engine expends greater computational resources to generate design solutions than the first solution engine.

A system configured to generate an approximate solution to a design problem, comprising:

• a memory storing a design application;
• and
• a processor that, when executing the design application, is configured to:
• generate design problem geometry associated with a design problem;
• synthesize a problem specification based on the design problem geometry and a set of design criteria;
• determine that the problem specification satisfies minimum input requirements for a first solution engine resident within the memory;
• execute the first solution engine to generate an approximate solution to the problem specification, wherein the approximate solution includes a first set of design solutions;
• display, via a graphical user interface (GUI), the approximate solution;
• and
• after displaying the approximate solution, transmit the problem specification to a second solution engine resident within a server machine to generate a second set of design solutions, wherein the second solution engine expends greater computational resources to generate design solutions than the first solution engine.