Product Development

NEW – Product Design Specification Template

Posted on by Anthony James
16
Aug

This week Laura and the team created a new Product Design Specification template. This is one of our series of templates related to product development, so if you’re interested in this area, please take a look at the product requirements specs and the user story template.

What is a Product Design Specification?

I caught up with Laura yesterday to ask her for some context on when you’d use this product spec. I also wanted to know how it differs from the more commonly used Product Requirements Specification.

Here’s an extract from the Teams call we had yesterday. I’ve been using this more frequently and found the transcript quality is improving or maybe I’m making more of an effort to speak clearly. Probably a bit of both.

Sean: “So, Laura, kudos on the new template! Looks great. This is a new one for me. Could you tell us a little about who uses it, how it’s written up and maybe a little on how it differs from the PRD.”

Laura: “Thanks for that. I know what you mean. There is some overlap between the two. Here’s a quick definition: A Product Design Specification (PDS) is document to identify requirements, constraints and specifications for a proposed product. It defines what the product is required to provide to meet customer expectations.

Sean: “Ok, but it sounds very similar to the PRD. What’s the difference?

Laura: “The Product Design Specification (PDS) and the Product Requirements Specification (PRS) are related but here’s some context on when you’d use one over the other:  

  1. Focus:
  • PRS: Focuses on what the product should do from a user and business perspective.
  • PDS: Focuses on how the product will be built to meet those requirements.
  1. Level of detail:
  • PRS: Typically more high-level, outlining functional and non-functional requirements.
  • PDS: More detailed and technical, specifying exact measurements, materials, and engineering specifications.
  1. Audience:
  • PRS: Primarily used by product managers, stakeholders, and the broader development team.
  • PDS: Mainly used by engineers and designers for actual product development.
  1. Timing:
  • PRS: Usually created earlier in the process, often before the PDS.
  • PDS: Developed after the PRS, once requirements are well understood.
  1. Content:
  • PRS: Includes user stories, features, business goals, and market requirements.
  • PDS: Contains technical specifications, design constraints, materials, manufacturing processes, and detailed performance criteria.
  1. Purpose:
  • PRS: Defines what success looks like from a product and business standpoint.
  • PDS: Provides a blueprint for how to achieve that success from a technical standpoint.

Sean: “Thanks. So, I’m now getting a sense of when to use one over the other. I do wonder if the PRD is a good fit for Agile/Scrum environments whereas the PRS may be more on the Waterfall side of things.”

Laura: “Let’s look into that in the coming weeks. I’m doing my Scrum Master cert at the moment so will ask the trainer for his two cents. Just to be clear, the PRS informs the creation of the PDS. The requirements outlined in the PRS are translated into specific technical specifications and design parameters in the PDS. While there can be some overlap, these documents serve different purposes in guiding product development from concept to realization.”

Sean: “Who writes the actual document? It is mostly done collaboratively with stakeholders?”

Laura: “More or less. The PDS is written through a collaborative process involving:

  • Market research and analysis of customer needs
  • Technical feasibility studies
  • Competitive analysis
  • Consultation with various departments (engineering, manufacturing, marketing, etc.)
  • Consideration of regulatory requirements and industry standards

Just to add, product designers/product owners will use the PDS to:

  • Guide their creative process while ensuring they meet all technical requirements
  • Make informed decisions about materials, components, and manufacturing processes
  • Communicate design intent to other team members and stakeholders
  • Evaluate design concepts against specified criteria
  • Ensure the final design aligns with the original product vision and market needs

Sean: “Interesting. It does seem to lean more towards manufacturing rather than software development. Or industries where the requirements are more locked down. Where can Klariti readers learn more?”

Laura: “You can download the template over here. If you’re interested in product development, we also have PRD and User Story templates here.”

Sean: “And where can people find you if they want to reach out?”

Laura: “A few places. Twitter, for sure. I still call it that. I seem to be on LinkedIn more these days. So over there too.”

Learn more:

Product Requirements Specification Template

Product Design Specification Template

User Story Template

How to Write Atomic Business Requirements

How to Write a Business Requirements Document (BRD)

Anthony James