The accelerating complexity of modern engineering and software development demands novel frameworks that blend human-centric design cognition with adaptive control architectures. This study proposes a comprehensive theoretical framework termed Cyber‑Cognitive Adaptive Design Systems (CCADS), which synthesizes classical design theory, socio‑cognitive design perspectives, and principles of self-adaptive system architecture. Building on foundational work in design as a socio-cultural cognitive system (Dong, 2004), co‑evolutionary design processes (Dorst & Cross, 2001), and systems thinking in engineering (Forrester, 1968; Dubberly & Pangaro, 2019), CCADS embeds feedback‑loop architectures derived from self-adaptive software engineering (Kephart & Chess, 2003; Cheng et al., 2009) and management cybernetics (Geyer, 1995; Elezi, 2015). Through conceptual modeling and synthesis of literature across product development, design cognition, and adaptive system control, the framework articulates design as an ongoing cybernetic process that dynamically responds to environmental and contextual changes. We identify four core components — cognitive negotiation, socio-technical feedback loops, adaptive control layers, and emergent evaluation mechanisms — and propose a set of design propositions elucidating how CCADS can improve resilience, innovation, and decision efficacy in complex engineering systems. The paper concludes by discussing implications for engineering design departments, product development organizations, and future research directions to empirically validate and refine the CCADS framework.

Design cybernetics, self-adaptive systems, socio‑cognitive design, feedback loops

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