Design Tips

Start with High-Level Design: Define Core System Architecture First

Begin by outlining the big picture: decide on the architecture (such as client-server, microservices, or monolithic) and identify major components, such as databases, external services, and key modules. This top-down approach provides clarity and helps ensure that your design aligns with the project’s goals and requirements before diving into detailed code structures.
Use Object-Oriented Principles to Guide Your Design

Follow object-oriented principles like encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction. Design classes to represent real-world entities or logical constructs within your system, grouping related properties and behaviors. For example, create classes that reflect the entities of your system, like User, Order, or Product, each with their own attributes and behaviors.
Consider the User Journey in Your UX Design

Think from the user’s perspective and consider the steps they’ll take to accomplish their goals. Map out typical user flows for key features, keeping interactions simple and intuitive. For instance, a sign-up process should be clear and brief, with only essential fields, minimizing user frustration and improving the overall experience.
Consider Future Scalability

When designing the system, think about future scaling needs. For instance, if you might need to add more users or functionality, choose a modular architecture that can grow. This could mean designing database structures that can be partitioned, or using a microservices approach where new services can be added independently.
Use Design Patterns Wisely

Familiarize yourself with common design patterns like Singleton, Factory, Observer, and Strategy. These patterns provide tested solutions to common problems and improve code readability. However, avoid overusing them; only apply patterns when they clearly benefit the design. For example, use a Factory pattern to create objects when specific subclasses are determined at runtime.
Think in Layers for System Structure

Divide your system into layers, such as the presentation layer (UI), business logic layer, and data access layer. This separation of concerns makes it easier to modify or test parts of the system independently. For instance, if you need to change a database, you only need to update the data layer without altering the UI or business logic.
Design for Reusability

Aim to design components, classes, and functions that can be reused in different parts of the system or in future projects. For example, creating a generic API client class or a reusable date formatting function can save time and reduce redundancy. Reusable code leads to better consistency and less maintenance in the long term.
Document Design Decisions

Write down key design decisions, especially if they involve trade-offs or complex logic. Documenting the reasons behind your choices will help you and others understand the design’s rationale and make future updates easier. Even a few sentences explaining why a particular pattern or architecture was chosen can clarify the design for team members or future developers.
Prioritize User Feedback in UX Design

UX design should make users feel in control and aware of system status. Provide clear feedback for actions—like loading indicators, success messages, or error notifications. For instance, if a user submits a form, show a success message or a loading animation to confirm the action, improving the overall user experience and trust in the system.
Consider Edge Cases and Error Handling in Low-Level Design

Identify potential edge cases and plan error-handling strategies. For example, think about how your application should handle network issues, invalid inputs, or unexpected responses from third-party services. By planning for these scenarios early, you can create a more resilient system that gracefully handles issues.
Focus on Consistency in UI Elements

In UX design, consistency is key to an intuitive experience. Use a consistent style for buttons, colours, fonts, and spacing. When designing forms, follow similar layouts and interaction patterns throughout the app. A consistent interface allows users to navigate and interact with the system confidently, reducing their learning curve.
Simplify with Encapsulation in Low-Level Design

Keep your class internals private whenever possible, exposing only what’s necessary through public methods. For example, instead of directly exposing a List in a class, provide a method like AddItem or RemoveItem. Encapsulation hides complexity and reduces the risk of accidental misuse, keeping the system’s internal logic clear and controlled.
Test Design Assumptions with Early Prototypes

Create early, low-fidelity prototypes or wireframes for the UI to test user flows and feature layouts. On the back end, create minimal implementations of core modules to verify that design decisions meet the system requirements. Early testing of these prototypes helps identify improvements and prevents extensive rework later.