Asif thinking should never be used as a replacement for rational thought. The real value of AsIf thinking is that it’s an adjunct to rational thought. Asif is a powerful tool to examine and expand your self-imposed limits of relational thinking.

I would not want an engineer to use weak materials AsIf they were strong. Physics always wins.

I do think it could be useful for the engineer to do multiple AsIf thought experiments at various stages of the design process.

Design a bridge for the project AsIf cost was not a limitation

Design a bridge AsIf the aesthetics were as important as cost reduction.

Design a bridge AsIf it was the last project before I die.

The Duomo in Florence was designed and built starting in 1296 without any plan for how to construct the large dome that would be needed. It seemed impossible at the time. They designed the church AsIf someday it would be possible to complete the structure with a monumental dome. Eventually, 140 years later, the finances, political will, engineering technology, and Brunelleschi came together and got it done. Note that they didn’t try to build the dome in 1296 AsIf they knew how, They waited over 100 years for a time when it was reasonably certain to succeed. The AsIf thinking of the original builders created the opportunity for innovation and genius of the future builders.