An effective, usable database is only possible if its designers have adequately incorporated the results of a full needs and task analysis. The database designer, in addition to programming skills, must understand the target user of the database, its intended functionality in both the short and long term, and all system and human parameters affecting its use.
the process of developing a database that will meet a user's requirements. The activity includes three separate but dependent steps: conceptual database design, logical database design, and physical database design [ IEEE 91].