System design is a process of discovery and planning which allows all actors to form a clear understanding of the project goals as well as to set targets for progress while providing a clear roadmap to completion. It enables all parties to better visualise the path to project completion as well as communicate this to any relevant third parties.
Targets and goals also help reduce project ‘creep’ where additional demands are made which are outside the scope of the initial specification. The following is what you would expect to see from an average design specification of a medium to large project – not all would apply in every case and not every aspect of a system design is included here either – it’s just to give you an idea:
- Overall system functionality
- Content structure
- Navigation framework
- Look, feel, layout, style
- Data
- Supply/creation/types
- Product/service variables
- Resource planning
- Hardware
- Software
- Hosting (site & development repository – remote/local)
- Personnel
- Update cycles/responsibilities/access control
- Systems integration
- Back office
- Delivery logistics
- Sales and payment processes
- Compliance (legal/regulatory)
- PCI (security)
- Data protection
- Accessibility
- Maintenance schedule