How to write an engineering design brief & why they matter.
A design brief sets the foundation for a design project and is critical when designing electronic products. It is a roadmap that outlines the project's objectives, scope, technical specifications, and user requirements. A well-written design brief guides the design team aligns stakeholders and helps the final product meet expectations.
Even a basic brief can be effective for communicating design needs and identifying early questions or gaps. At a recent event about electronics and embedded software design challenges, the consensus was that communication was the deciding factor in the success of a project, not the engineering. A design brief is where your good communication starts.
Start with a top-level design brief that can then be tailored for different audiences. You can add details about the software and electronics to share with your engineers while adding different details to share with your packaging team. Our design brief questionnaire allows you to attach technical specifications related to the embedded software and electronics while the Project Overview will be the same for everyone.
1. Project Overview
The design brief should start with a clear and concise project overview. Think of your elevator pitch to start. This section provides a snapshot of the product's purpose, its target market, and the problem it aims to solve. A well-defined project overview sets the stage for the entire design process.
Key points to include:
Product purpose: Why are you creating this product? What does it do?
Opportunity: Why now? What does your product offer that others don’t
Market position: How will the product stand out from the competition?
Business Model: How are you making money? Are you selling the devices or using the product to deliver a service?
Volume: How many units do you expect to need and when? This will influence design decisions.
Project status: What is the status of the project? Do you have a proof of concept or prototype already? Have you tested it? What were the results?
2. Goals and Deliverables
Next, clearly outline project goals for the product design and list the required deliverables. The goal typically involves solving specific user problems or addressing unmet market needs.
Key points to include:
Function(s): What should the product do? Primary functions and additional features should be included.
Compliance standards: Industry regulations and standards that the product must adhere to (e.g., safety certifications, wireless standards).
Deliverables: List what you need at the end of the project and be specific. Make sure to include the required documentation and in what format. This can make a significant difference to a project. For example, if you need a DFMEA for your project is this something you are providing the designer designers or something you need delivered?
3. User Requirements and Experience (UX)
The success of any product depends largely on whether it solves the user's need. Therefore, understanding users' needs and expectations is vital. This design brief section should outline the desired user experience or journey, directly influencing the design process.
Key points to include:
User needs: What user challenges or pain points should the product address?
User journey: A simple flow of how users will interact with the product.
Ease of use: The product’s user interface (UI) and overall interaction should be intuitive. Is the user inhibited in any way, like wearing gloves or working in low light?
Location and Environment: If it is not included in the user journey include where they are using the product and if there are environmental considerations.
Design style preferences: Any aesthetic guidelines or visual themes that should be followed.
4. Top-Level Technical Requirements or Technical Specifications
This section will vary depending on the stage of your product development. If you are at the beginning of your product design process this section might be, well brief. However, if you are updating an existing design, the technical specs are likely to be already well-defined. Technical specifications are crucial to ensure the design is feasible and functional but those don’t have to be decided in your brief. A qualified electronics consultant can help you with your technical specs if you can give them the basics and the process should include a formal requirements stage.
The design brief can outline the product’s hardware and software top-level requirements and performance standards without getting into the formal requirements.
Some of the things to consider:
Power requirements: Will the product be battery-powered, rechargeable, or plug-in?
Connectivity: What wireless technologies (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, etc.) are required?
Interface: How does the user work the device? Details about screens, buttons, or touch interfaces.
Size and form factor: Product dimensions, weight, and any physical limitations.
Environmental factors: Where is it used? Consideration of temperature, humidity, and durability in various environments (e.g., waterproofing, heat resistance).
(Optional) Known components: Are there any components you have already decided on?
5. Design Constraints and Limitations
Every design project has constraints, often related to cost, time, technology, and quality. Since budgets are often limited, we ask clients to consider their priorities. What matters most, and where is there room for compromise in the design?
Key points to include:
Priorities: What matters most to your project?
Budget: The financial constraints that will affect material choices, manufacturing, and the project's overall scope. There are two costs to consider; development costs and production costs.
BOM (Bill of Materials) Cost Targets: Does the design have build-cost constraints or are functionality and quality more important than BOM cost?
Timeframe: The project’s ideal schedule for various phases (prototype, testing, final product release). Is there an event or other date you are aiming for?
(Optional) Manufacturing limitations: Any production constraints (e.g., availability of certain materials or manufacturing processes).
(Optional) Material choices: If there are any preferred materials due to cost, durability, or environmental reasons.
(Optional) Compatibility: The product should be compatible with existing systems or infrastructure (e.g., software or hardware requirements).
Conclusion
A design brief is a first step in communicating your product vision and goals. Engineering is only ever as good as the communication that underpins the design. It ensures that the product is not only technically sound but also meets user needs, adheres to budgetary constraints, and aligns with market demands. By including these essential components in the design brief, stakeholders can build their project on a good foundation and be on their way to ultimately creating a successful electronic product.
Prefer to use our DESIGN BRIEF TEMPLATE? Send us an e-mail and we will be happy to share.