Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1541169
30 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 Anyone who has ordered a car knows you don't just stroll onto the lot, casually mention you want "a red one," and drive away happy. There's a pro- cess: You sit down with the dealer, pick your make and model, choose your options—engine size, inte- rior trim, transmission type, sunroof—and agree on a price. Then the paperwork starts flying. Now imagine showing up to that dealership and telling them, "Just give me something green." You'd get a polite chuckle, maybe a polite sigh, and then a conversation that starts with, "Let's narrow it down." That's the same conversation a PCB designer has when someone walks in and says, "I need a board layout." Okay, great. But what kind of board, size, or parts? What's it supposed to do? I can't tell you how many times PCB designers are asked to "just get started" as if their time is somehow affordably cheap or of lesser value. Just like a car, a circuit board layout requires a few TA RG E T C O N D I T I O N by Kelly Dack , CIT, CID+ May I Take Your Order, Please? essentials before we can put anything into drive. Without clear design constraints, everyone is fly- ing blind, and that's when costly surprises start pil- ing up, which often result in do-overs, and time-con- suming ones at that. Sometimes, these are career- shortening do-overs. So, what do we need to get started? It really boils down to three simple, non-negotiable items. Parts List You wouldn't spec a V8 engine just by saying "fast motor." The same goes for components. We need manufacturer part numbers, not nicknames or "that little eight-pin job we always use." We need real part numbers because part numbers unlock a treasure trove of design data: datasheets, models, schematic symbols, footprints, and pin orientation, which are often verified and ready to drop into the design. These aren't just helpful. They're essential.