An absurdly abstract topological notion, rarely applied in any useful sense. The notion really requires explicit parameterization and evaluation of the technologically relevant features of every feasible conceptual design (which is likely a superset of the required characteristics) relative to the n-dimensional basis formed by the union of all such mutually feasible1 features.
To properly be a basis, the set of features would have to be mutually independent (that is “orthogonal”) such that each design could be placed in some region of the space bounded by its toleranced features. The union of all feasible-design regions is the “design space”. A more useful approximation allowing for some degree of innovation would be to define the space as the convex hull of design points.
In any case, it’s really hard to turn this idea into a concrete notion, but it sounds good when used in a meeting with the Big Dogs.
Footnotes- i.e., non-mutually-exclusive.[↩]