1. Specify requirements
In your Design Notebook, title the page “Green Design: Specify Requirements”
Specify 4 design requirements (or features) that state the important characteristics that your design must meet in order to be successful and their function.
Major Need
What is essential to Meet the Need
(Possible Design Requirements/ Feature)
What is absolutely essential to meet the need in your future solution?
What must happen?
What are the physical requirements/ limits to your need?
What are conceptual requirements/ limits of the product you are designing?

2. Specification example
Design: Walking Element
Design requirement: an essential feature
A necessary function
Feature: Meets the Major Need
Function: Purpose of Feature
Hand grip
So a person can hold on
Rubber tip on the bottom
Prevents the element from scratching the floor
Stained wood
Looks nice
Padding on the top
So a person can feel more comportable
Design Requirement: a feature that competes with other products

3. Assignment: Design Brief
To complete the requirements step of the Design Process, you should write a design brief. A design brief gathers all the key information for solving your problem in one place. Should contain:
A description of your target user.
A definition of the problem you intend to solve. [Who] need(s) [what] because [why].
A description of how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem.
A list of all the requirements for your design.

4. Specify Requirements checklist
If you can answer yes to the following, then you are ready to move on to the next stage.
Does it define the problem you intend to solve? [Who] need(s) [what] because [why].
Does it describe how existing products are used and why they fail to address the problem?
Does it describe your target user?
Does it list all of the requirements for your design?
Is each design requirement needed to solve your problem? If it is not needed, leave it out. You'll have enough other things to work on!
Is each design requirement feasible? Ask if you have the time, money, materials, tools, and knowledge to make it happen. If you have conflicts between your requirements, have you investigated making trade-offs among them?