Specifications and Design: Does Not Have to be a Tense Relationship
Echo and Narcissus, John William Waterhouse, 1903
Today's painting illustrates a tense relationship between the young man Narcissus, seen here admiring his reflection in the stream, and the young lady, Echo, across the water, trying to attract his attention.
Something of the same relationship can exist between Design and Specifications. Design can be distracted by aesthetic concerns and may not give sufficient attention to the technical proficiency offered by Specifications, who turns half away in disappointment. Specifications and technical concerns may try to recreate what worked last time and not be responsive to the design intent, preventing the realization of the Design.
Echo, in her sadness, eventually left Narcissus by the water and fled away, crying his name over and over, eventually fading away until only her voice remained. She hides today in distant places, forlornly repeating the names called out to her.
In an ideal world, Design and Specifications are a happy couple, each realizing the importance of the other, mutually supporting the Architect's Dream.
Next Post: Specification Types by Design Stage.
