Definition

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Design View

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works.
                                   - John Gall, Systemantics

A design view is a means of organising design information. It expresses a design in terms of a set of design entity(s) (refer Figure 1). A complete design describes all design entities and their attributes. In contrast a design view looks at:

  • A subset of the design entities where the design view gives design information about part of the system (for example a particular sub-system).
  • A subset of the design attributes where the design view gives a certain type of information about the entire system (for example the functional safety aspects of the design).
  • Both the design entities and design attributes subsets where the design view gives a certain type of information about part of the system (for example component interface specifications).

Figure 1 Relationship of design views to design entities

Desiogn view

Organising information into design views is important for the following reasons:

  • It allows complex systems to be logically partitioned so multiple development teams can coordinate their efforts, each team focusing on their particular design view.
  • It decreases the scope, and thus the complexity, of information that is presented at any one time.
  • It makes it easier to consider some information globally, without it being clouded with extraneous information.

Example:

A decomposition description is an example of a design view. The decomposition description in Figure 2 expresses the design in terms of a hierarchy using the design entities "system", "sub-system", "module" and "routine".

Figure 2 A design view expressed as a decomposition description

Decomposition description
Collaboration

Member Comments

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RE Definition: Design View

nice

By DorthySmith » Wed 25-Feb-2026, 14:20, My rating: ✭ ✭ ✭ ✩ ✩

Quotation Insight – Starting with John Gall’s quote provides context and perspective. It emphasizes that complexity evolves from simplicity, which ties nicely to the idea of using design views to manage large systems incrementally. Sikwin18

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