The first stage in the audit of any activity is definition of the area under analysis. In principle when using the Design Atlas framework an organisation can define the activities under review in two ways.

Firstly, it can consider whether it wants to audit design capability across the whole organisation or simply within a particular business unit. Secondly, it can define the types of design activity that it wants to consider when auditing design capability. The Design Atlas framework is written using generic language. Its questions can be used to interrogate the capability of an organisation to handle the design of new products, new services, communication materials, working environments, websites or any other form of design activity.

In step 1 it is useful to consider what types of design activity are being considered within the organisation under review. If you would like further guidance on definitions of design activity many references can be found in early sections of the 'Design in Business' book.