Model Driven Architecture (MDA)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model-driven_architecture

Model-driven architecture (MDA) is a software design approach for the development of software systems. It provides a set of guidelines for the structuring of specifications, which are expressed as models. Model-driven architecture is a kind of domain engineering, and supports model-driven engineering of software systems. It was launched by the Object Management Group (OMG) in 2001

define system functionality using a platform-independent model (PIM) using an appropriate domain-specific language.
separate design from architecture
design addresses the functional (use case) requirements
architecture provides the infrastructure through which non-functional requirements