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58 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2025 For some time, I have been discussing the increasing complexity of PCBs and how designers can address the constantly evolving design requirements associated with them. My book, e Printed Circuit Designer's Guide to… Designing for Reality, details best practices for creating manufacturable boards in a modern production environment. It is also important to recognize that the process of board design has changed and will continue to do so. Electronic devices increas- ingly require complex boards with diverse functionalities, oen with tight tolerances and a limited footprint. is makes it even more likely that designs are created by teams, not a lone designer sweating it out in an office armed with their favorite CAD tool and a coffee cup filled with determination. The Trend Toward Team Design Complex modern boards with diverse func- tionalities oen require specialized expertise with radio frequency (RF) technology, flex PCBs, and high density interconnect (HDI) boards with high volumes of connections. Increasingly, we see designs that will be part of embedded or multi-board systems—intercon- nected PCBs, each handling a specific func- tion. ese designs require a lot of work and possess a great deal of complexity that can be a challenge for one person to handle. With time-to-market pressure almost always a key factor on a project, there is oen not enough time for a designer to informally solicit input from engineers or project managers and remain on schedule. To accelerate product launches and upgrades, organizations should Connect the Dots by Matt Stevenson, ASC SUNSTONE CIRCUITS The Future of PCB Design and Manufacturing