The present invention relates to a method for designing a system. This method includes obtaining a visual representation of one or more components of the ventilation system. One or more property values are assigned to each of the components of the system, which may be achieved using first program code. Geometrical information representing the visual representation and the property values of each component are exported to a data file using the first program code. Standards information relating to the property values are stored. The data file is then imported into a second software application and the data file and the standards information is used to generate a final design using the second software application.