What are effective ways to balance software design constraints?

Start small, don't build anything at first! Engineers, Designers and PMs should interview the users and understand their problems, shadow them while they work. Then build some rough prototypes, could be on paper Show it to the user and get feedback, rinse and repeat. The more you do that the more you understand the problem. At some point you will need to actually build some sort of MVP. I would go with some no-code tool to again build something fast and get feedback asap. When you really have nailed down the desired behavior the user wants then you can actually start coding

Utilize A/B testing and user behavior analytics to validate your assumptions with concrete data. This method ensures your design is not solely based on theoretical user personas but is informed by actual user interactions. Encourage a continuous feedback loop, allowing for iterative improvements based on user responses. This strategy marries empirical evidence with creative design thinking, leading to solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply rooted in practical user needs.

Designing software could be the hardest part if you do not understand the end goal of the software. I prefer you to go through the problem and the solution first so that you can better relate to the software. For example, if you are designing and web application for a gardening company then you should talk to the stakeholders about what are the issues they are facing now and what could be solved with the software.

From my experience, understanding the problem in depth demand practical exercises. There is the need to materialize it (being technical or business) in order to fully evaluate how bad it might be and what options may be available. Avoid keeping this analysis only on theoretical level, there are a lot of hidden variables which just manifest when the car hits the road. If problem is technical, prototypes can help shed light. If it is business/requirements, involve users, get second opinions and surveys.

The contribution effectively highlights key software design principles like abstraction, modularity, and encapsulation, but it can be enriched by integrating user-centric design principles. Incorporating user feedback and analytics into the design phase ensures the software resonates with its intended audience, making it not just technically proficient but also user-friendly. Adopting agile methodologies to iteratively test and refine designs based on real user interactions bridges the gap between theoretical principles and practical application. This approach not only fosters innovation but also boosts software adoption, emphasizing the balance between technical excellence and user empathy.

Good design can transcend disciplines, they share core principles and objectives. Start small, test and fail early, learn from what was not good. Keep the focus on what is really important. Since we work with software, we can benefit a bit more on "failing" often since it is very quick to correct trajectories. With hardware it is a bit trickier, but even so we are following these practices even with space rockets (with stellar success).

Proper documentation of design decision along with the trade-offs considered serves as a reference for dev team as the project evolves and also ensures consistency throughout the project.

It is crucial to focus and manage trade-offs such as cost, time, performance, and scope. It is extremely likely that you'll achieve all in harmony, hence requires robust strategies to achieve the end goal. Second strategy is to leverage existing solutions (reusability) or adopting a platform mindset.