W6H framework for design specifications

The W6H Framework for design specifications is a model for writing design specifications. This model helps designers document the scope elements and design features of an educational product or experience. By asking 6 "W" questions and one "H" question, the design team can clearly document all of the essential planning and design elements within the design specifications documentation for the project.

Definition

The W6H Framework is a set of simple questions for defining and documenting both the project scope and design features of an educational product or experience. The responses to these questions are used to define and write the design specifications for a product.

Additional Information

[tap image to enlarge]. Key elements of design specifications. A diagram highlighting the elements of the W6H framework in relation to the goals, audience, and structural aspects of the project scope, as well as the design features that are subsequently defined. Each section in this diagram outlines one of the 6 "W"s, as well as the "H" of how the product will teach people things. Using the W6H framework to identify and document the scope and design of the project will provide a solid foundation for written design specifications.

For each of the questions in the W6H framework, designers analyze, plan, and make decisions about the core elements related to a product's scope and design features. It is important to define these elements, as it can be

The W6H framework is particularly useful for defining and documenting the design specifications for a product. The framework is named W6H because it uses 6 simple questions that start with W (who, what, when, where, why, with what effect) and 1 question that starts with H (how) 😊

The questions of the W6H framework

The seven seven questions of W6H are associated with one or more element of a product's scope or design features:

• Who? (the audience considerations of design)
• What? (the learning objectives)
• When and For How Long? (the duration and timing of activities)
• Where? (the location setting of activities)
• How? (defining the educational activities, media, technology, and interfaces that people participate with, as well as the look, feel, and layout)
• Why? (defining the process of learning from the activities, media, technology, and interfaces, and why learning is expected to occur from them)
• With What Effect? (evaluation and assessment)

Note that the How? and Why? questions are both associated with the design features of a product, while the others are associated with the project scope.

The questions of W6H are simple, but they can be very deep when trying to adequately answer them! Click on the links next to each question for more information on how to respond to the question for the purposes of writing a design proposal or design specifications.

Tips and Tricks

• To begin writing design specifications for a project, simply begin to answer for yourself the main W and H questions listed above! Much of the planning of a project and even parts of the design can be performed by asking these simple, but deep questions.
• Before you begin the design and development of a product, you may need to develop a proposal to analyze needs, communicate your ideas, and make some initial design decisions. Using the W6H framework is an excellent way to develop a proposal and think through the most important parts of an educational design.

Related Concepts

• Design specifications
• Project scope
• Design feature
• Audience considerations of design
• Structural considerations of design
• Constraints
• Learning objectives and outcomes

Examples

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External Resources

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