An interactive visual-modeling tool helps a database architect implement a database system. The tool gathers information about data that will form the content of the database, gathers information about one or more applications that will access the database, and gathers information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur. The tool uses this information to create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases and to calculate costs for the implementation project. The tool then presents the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.