In many projects, design is an essential process whose purpose is to create, describe, and communicate that which is to be implemented. Managing the design process normally means setting the design objectives, evaluating design performance and coordinating the associated design activities. A systems approach to managing projects, where all phases are integrated and use the same basic method for planning work activities and tracking performance, is an important aspect of ‘best practice’. Based on techniques generally in use in managing the physical delivery phase, a practical and generic model to managing a project's design is described in this paper. The model, a computerised spreadsheet, which accurately captures design status, is in stark contrast to the often-found practice of subjective assessment as design work progresses.