Semantic Software Design

Appendix A. The Semantic Design Toolbox

The Tools

Throughout this book, we have introduced new, and sometimes radical, ideas for how to approach software design. Many of these ideas are about thinking differently, using different language, and reconsidering the very job of software designers as what we used to call “architects.”

Accompanying these ideas we have introduced many templates as well. These serve to bring this new approach of deconstructive software design into a pragmatic, practical realm so that you can apply it today in your own work. Deconstructive design is more a mindset and a “way of life” than a silver bullet; I don’t advertise it as a silver bullet. It’s hard work. You’ll likely spend some time swimming upstream of your corporate culture to change how you approach software design in this new way.

These are the key components, templates, checklists, scorecards, and practical frameworks, that together form the semantic designer’s toolbox. You can download the toolbox at https://aletheastudio.com.

Thinking Stage

For these tools, see Chapter 4.

• Persona Document

• Customer Journey Map

Concept Stage

For these, see Chapter 2.

• Lookbook

• Parti

• Concept Canvas

Design Stage

For these, see Chapter 5.

• Mural

• Vision box

• Mind map

• Use cases

• Principles

• Position paper

• Approach document

• RAID

• Design Definition Document

These tools help capture the ideas in Chapter 6:

• Business glossary

• Business capabilities model

• Process map

• System inventory ...