DesignVorgaben

DesignVorgaben, literally design specifications, is a term used in German-speaking organizations to describe the formal set of requirements that guide the design of a product, system, or service. They serve as a contract between stakeholders – product management, design, engineering, manufacturing, and QA – defining what must be built, how it should look, and how it should perform.

Typically, DesignVorgaben cover functional requirements (what the product must do), non-functional requirements (usability, accessibility, reliability, performance), and constraints related to materials, production, or platform. They also embed the visual and interaction standards, such as branding, typography, color, layout, and component usage, often expressed through a design system, style guide, or corporate design guidelines. Accessibility and localization are commonly included.

Process: created in early project phases from the design brief, iterated with stakeholders, and formalized through approval cycles. They are treated as living documents and updated as requirements evolve. They guide development, procurement, quality assurance, and compliance testing and provide a reference during audits and handoffs.

Relation to other concepts: DesignVorgaben complement broader design principles and corporate identity (CD). They differ from high-level design concepts by specifying concrete requirements, tokens, or assets. They are implemented through design tokens, component libraries, and specification artifacts that developers use during implementation.

Examples: a mobile app DesignVorgaben might specify button styles, typography, spacing, and navigation patterns; a consumer product might constrain materials and manufacturing tolerances; a government project might require adherence to accessibility and safety standards.