Elements of a Design Document

Executive Summary:

A concise overview of the project that communicates the basic concept. What's it all about? This should not be longer than one page. A single paragraph may be all that is needed, and the first sentence of that paragraph should be sufficient to capture the essence of the project. If you can't boil it down to a single sentence, you may need to clarify the focus of your project.

Statement of Purpose:

Motivation, intended use, importance. Why are you doing this? What will you do with it when it's done? Why does it matter? Articulate the standards by which the success of the project may be measured. You may need to revisit this section when you have completed the other elements of your design document.

Content Outline:

A logically organized, hierarchical outline of the project's content.

Experiential Flowchart:

A chart depicting the user's experience — how he or she can navigate through the content.

Interface Mockups:

Nonfunctional, annotated sketches of key elements and screens.

Media Inventory:

An exhaustive, detailed list of all the media necessary for the project. Account for copyright issues, if any.

Skills Assessment:

What do you know, and what do you need to know to accomplish the project?

Implementation Plan:

A detailed plan which spells out how the above will be accomplished. Who does what, and when? Include schedule and budget information.

Evaluation Plan:

A detailed plan for evaluating the finished product according to the standards articulated in the statement of purpose. Include a narrative summary, a schedule and a budget.