Design documentation
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Documentation is the process, act or instance of classifying, annotating or authenticating information contained within documents for purposes of factual verification or permanent record keeping. A document is a representation of information in a written, drawn or digital form.
Design documentation is a term that is sometimes associated with the development of computer software (as in architecture design documentation) and web design (as in user experience or UX). In Design Documentation: Why You Need It, Nick Babich provides an overview of the basic ideas of design documentation for UX. This includes:
- Making documentation usable for the target audience.
- Providing up-to-date documentation.
- Working on design documentation incrementally.
- Testing documentation.
- Avoiding jargon.
- Creating easy access.
- Providing visual samples in the documentation.
Generally, this sort of design documentation should include information about users, implementation details, agreed upon decisions and project deadlines. The creation of design documentation should take place during the early stages of a project in order to clarify expectations and expedite the achievement of goals.
[edit] Building design documentation
These same basic principles can apply to design documentation for building and construction. At the very least, there should be a suitable amount of documentation written to inform staff at an appropriate level of the work that they are expected to complete.
Ideally, this collection of documents and resources should cover all design aspects of a building project, including decisions that have been made during the design process to satisfy business, legal, environmental, social, technical and so on requirements and support the execution of the design.
This can include specifications, drawings, operational information, and other relevant documents (explanatory diagrams, tables and charts, standards, surveys and so on).
The amount and depth of the documentation will depend on the requirements of the design brief, and other documentation such as employers information requirements.
There are a number of articles on Designing Buildings describing particular types of documentation and documents:
- Contract documents.
- Tender documentation.
- Types of drawings.
- Briefing documents.
- Specifications.
- Legislation.
- Regulations.
- Planning permission.
- Certificates.
- Permits.
- Approvals.
- BIM.
- Construction contract certificates, notices and instructions.
For more information see: Design process.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Commissioning documentation.
- Document.
- Handover to client.
- Project brief for design and construction.
- Quality management systems (QMS) - beyond the documentation.
- Record keeping.
- User experience UX.
[edit] External resources
- Nick Babich, Design Documentation: Why You Need It.
Featured articles and news
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.