While there are many project management tools and
software packages available, these are not widely used
in the design curriculum at colleges and universities.
This may reflect some of the differences between conventional
projects and design activities. In particular, the open-ended
nature of design activities and the need to clarify the
client's intention may lead to the conclusion that
conventional project management tools are only useful for
the most routine activities in the design process. It is
suggested that there is a market for a new set of tools
for teaching the management of design. These tools should
incorporate the most useful of the current management tools
and integrate them with some of the requirements of effective
design, including support for clarification of objectives,
functional analysis, and generation and evaluation of alternatives.