1.1 Needs & Necessities
Define the need before choosing the solution.
Core idea
Define the need before choosing the solution.
A need describes the function, not the product.
Start with the situation
- What is happening?
- Who needs something?
- What must it do?
- Where will it be used?
- What limits the solution?
Separate facts from assumptions, interpretations, and opinions.
Needs
- Requirement: something the design must include or accomplish.
- Restriction: a limit the design must work within.
- Necessity, 10/10: the design fails without it, or the restriction must be followed.
- Nice-to-have, 1-9/10: improves the design, but is not required.
Class example
We used the name-tag problem to identify requirements and restrictions, then separate necessities from nice-to-haves.
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