Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1529118
62 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2024 What are some of the rules of thumb that you use regularly, and why? Rule No. 1: If you can define it right, you can design it right. Spend time up front developing require- ments that can be used to guide your design to success. e lack of requirements in a project lead to technical ambiguity that is too oen stop-gapped with assumptions. ese assump- tions lead to design errors that result in techni- cal debt or design spins that cost money. e old adage of "measure twice, cut once" still applies. I recommend the INCOSE Guide to Writing Requirements (incose.org) for anyone interested in learning more about developing clear actionable requirements. Rule No. 2: Establish Expectations Take the time to establish reasonable expec- tations between you, your customers, and your team (vendors included). Clearly defined If You Can Define It Right, You Can Design It Right Feature Q&A with Chris Young Design engineer Chris Young is known for his optimized design process. As lead hard- ware engineer with Moog Space and Defense Group and owner of Young Engineering Ser- vices, Chris collects data like it's going out of style, and he leaves nothing to chance. With that in mind, I asked Chris to discuss his views on rules of thumb—which ones work, which ones should be avoided, and how rules fit ideally into the PCB design process. Andy Shaughnessy: I know that you've spent a lot of time and effort over the years dialing in your design process. How do you use rules of thumb in your design cycle? Chris Young: I use purpose-driven rules of thumb that produce practices that reduce risk and drive a desired outcome. I am much less concerned about using a specific PCB stack- up than producing a solution that works and meets requirements.