1. A method for designing an optical system using a optical design system implemented on a computer system, the method comprising the optical design system performing the steps of: generating a design state overview of the design of the optical system, the design state overview summarizing a current state and a target state of the design by describing a plurality of specifications for the optical system, the specification descriptions including target ranges for the specifications based on the target state of the design and further including current values for the specifications based on the current state of the design, and the specification descriptions include a comparison condition between a combination of a target range, a target state and a current value associated with the specification; displaying the design state overview; and updating, by a processor, the design state overview in response to the optical design system changing the current design for the optical system and visually emphasizing one or more specifications based in part on a comparison condition.