Coastal engineering design studies often rely on detailed numerical models that involve various mono-disciplinary physical processes, complex numerics and large computational demands. As a consequence, these models are particularly useful to address specific questions that arise during project phases focusing on detailed design. In contrast, during early project phases focusing on project feasibility, proof-of-concept and preliminary engineering efforts, these detailed numerical models suffer from their aforementioned characteristics. Now, aspects such as interactivity, flexibility and multi-disciplinary assessment are of importance. Simple yet fast tools and empirical relations offer a lot of potential to fill this gap, but are typically not as systematically developed as detailed numerical models. This results in a deficit in consistent integration of disciplines, robustness, interactivity and potential flexibility.