Final answer:
Requirements-gathering is critical in the design process as it defines what the system should do, facilitates communication, and sets the goals for the design. It provides a foundation for documenting decisions and the science behind the solutions, and specifies criteria and constraints for evaluating design quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Requirements-gathering is a crucial part of the design process because it:
- Provides an explanation of what the system should "be" or should "do",
- Documents "needs" to ensure clear communication among everyone involved in system development,
- Sets a collection of goals that define objectives for the design.
Each step in the design process, including requirements-gathering, should be well-documented to justify the decisions made and to explain the science connection behind the chosen solutions. In defining the problem, it is essential to understand the needs, the market, regulatory constraints, and available resources, which are then used to develop a problem statement and to establish criteria and constraints.
These criteria and constraints are used throughout the process to evaluate design quality and to compare potential solutions, ultimately leading to a prototype which goes through testing and communication of results to stakeholders.