How do you document and communicate design decisions?

1 Why document design decisions?

Documenting your design decisions is not only a professional obligation, but also a valuable way to improve your design process and outcomes. By doing so, you can record the rationale behind your choices, communicate your design intent and logic to different stakeholders, demonstrate compliance with codes and regulations, support review and quality control activities, facilitate design changes and revisions, and document lessons learned for future projects.

2 How to document design decisions?

When documenting your design decisions, there is no universal approach that works for all projects. However, some common elements to include are design objectives and scope, criteria and constraints, design alternatives and analysis, selection and justification, details and specifications, verification and validation, as well as references and sources. Define the purpose, goals, performance requirements, and limitations of your design. Describe the different options you considered and how you evaluated them. Explain why the final design solution is best. Provide technical information and drawings that detail the solution. Demonstrate how your design meets the criteria and objectives. And cite the codes, standards, guidelines, and literature that support your decisions.

3 What tools to use for documenting design decisions?

Civil engineers may use a variety of different tools and software to document design decisions depending on the nature and complexity of the project. Word processors and spreadsheets are basic yet essential for creating text-based documents and tables. CAD software is a powerful tool for creating and editing design drawings and models in either 2D or 3D. BIM software is an advanced tool for creating and managing design models that integrate multiple aspects, such as geometry, materials, structure, systems, and costs. Analysis and simulation software are specialized tools for performing various types of analysis and simulation on design models, such as structural, hydraulic, geotechnical, and environmental analysis. Collaboration and communication software are also useful for sharing and discussing design documents and models with team members, clients, or reviewers through cloud-based platforms, email, or video conferencing.

4 How to communicate design decisions?

Documenting your design decisions is not enough; you also need to communicate them effectively to your intended audience. Communication is a key skill for civil engineers, as it can influence the success and acceptance of your design project. To ensure that your design decisions are communicated properly, it is important to know your audience, choose the appropriate format and medium, use clear and concise language, use visuals and graphics, and use feedback and questions. Identifying who you are communicating with and what they need to know can help you select the best way to present your design information, such as reports, presentations, drawings, models, or videos. Utilizing simple and accurate words and sentences to convey your design message can help avoid jargon and ambiguity. Additionally, incorporating diagrams, charts, images, and animations can supplement and enhance your design information to make it more engaging and understandable. Lastly, using feedback and questions can help check the audience's understanding of your design project and address any issues or concerns.

5 How to improve your design documentation and communication skills?

Documenting and communicating your design decisions is not a one-time task, but a continuous learning process. To improve your design documentation and communication skills you should follow industry best practices and standards, seek feedback from peers, supervisors, clients, and reviewers, review and update your design documents regularly, and keep up with new tools and technologies. Doing so will help you document and communicate your design projects more efficiently and effectively.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?