Design Documents
Design documents explain how requirements will be implemented. They capture the decisions, tradeoffs, and structure behind a feature. In Requify, design documents live in the wiki so they are easy to find, link, and review.
What is a design document?
A design document is a living technical narrative that describes the solution. It usually includes the architecture, data flow, interfaces, and key decisions. Design documents are not substitutes for requirements. They show how requirements will be fulfilled.
Why use design documents?
Design documents help teams align before building:
- Provide a shared understanding of the solution
- Reduce rework by clarifying design choices early
- Capture tradeoffs and why certain paths were chosen
- Create a reference for future changes and onboarding
Design documents in Requify
The wiki provides a structured place for design documents. Each design document can be linked to related requirements, tests, and files. This keeps requirements and design in sync as work progresses.
Suggested sections
A strong design document is clear and structured. Common sections include:
- Problem statement: What is being solved and why it matters
- Scope: What is included and what is excluded
- Proposed solution: The architecture, components, and flow
- Alternatives considered: Other approaches and why they were not selected
- Risks and mitigations: Known risks and how they will be handled
- Open questions: Topics that still need decisions
Linking design documents to requirements
Design documents should connect directly to the requirements they satisfy. This makes traceability easy and highlights gaps early.
Typical workflow:
- Create the design document in the wiki
- Link it to the relevant requirements
- Review the document as part of the change or design review
- Update the document when requirements change
Keeping design documents current
Design documents are living artifacts. When requirements change, review linked design documents and update them. This ensures the implementation details remain accurate and reliable.