What are the principles of Design Modeling?

Design models provide a concrete specification for the construction of the software. It represents the characteristics of the software that help the practitioners to construct it effectively. Design modeling represents the dummy model of the thing that is to be built. In software systems, the design model provides different views of the system.

A set of design principles when applied creates a design that exhibits both internal and external quality factors. A high quality design can be achieved.

- The work of analysis model is to describe the information domain of problem, user functions, analysis classes with methods. The work of design model is to translate information from analysis model into an architecture. The design model should be traceable to analysis model.
- A data design simplifies program flow, design and implementation of software components easier. It is as important as designing of processing functions.
- In design modeling, the interfaces should be designed properly. It will make integration much easier and increase efficiency.
- Design should always start considering the architecture of the system that is to be built.
- End user plays an important role in developing a software system. User Interface is the visible reflection of the software. User Interface should be in terms of the end-user.
- Component functionality should focus on one and only one function or sub-function.
- In design modeling, the coupling among components should be as low as is needed and reasonable.
- Design models should be able to give information developers, testers and people who will maintain the software. In other words, it should be easily understandable.
- Design models should be iterative in nature. With each iteration, the design should move towards simplicity.