layers-domain
/layers-domain
Assumes /layers-intro has been loaded for framework context.
The domain layer maps what exists in the real world independently of any product: the concepts, terminology, processes, relationships, and mental models users bring with them. This is observation, not design.
Critical distinction: Do not resolve contradictions at this layer. Contradictory, messy, inconsistent domain language is data — it signals where different user communities have diverged, and where the product will need to make deliberate choices. Resolution happens at the conceptual model layer.
Decisions this layer needs to make:
- What are the key concepts in this domain, and how do they relate?
- What language do people use — and where does that language conflict or diverge?
- Where are the natural seams where different communities use the same words differently?
- What events and processes structure the domain's activity over time?
Methods:
| Method | When |
|---|---|
| Concept maps / bubble diagrams | Domain is complex and poorly understood. Informal nodes-and-lines show how concepts relate without forcing premature structure. |
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