"In the evolutionary approach, engineers “prune” design iterations as they evolve and grow under the force of random mutations, directing the path of evolution in the same way one might clip a Bonsai tree to achieve a desired shape, or breed a new form of tulip."

mmmm, I suspect a better analogy than gardening is genetic engineering. Random mutations are part of it, as are pruning and cultivating, but more aggressive hacks are used too.

From eric@euclidone.com

The history of the design process has included addition of requirements such as documentation, testability, portability, etc.

Left to an enverionment free from these requirements, engineers are capable of obtuse design. Add the requirements and design becomes intelligible.

The darwinian algorithm should produce intelligible designs once intelligibility is added as a criteria for survival.