The Design Process - Part B

Design Resolve

Quantify by listing. Justify with reasons. Clarify and record your design with your presentation. Confirm the design with the recipient.

You must read this in conjunction with the Gant chart which demonstrates the timeline in graphical form. click here

Design Project Scope

3 Resolve

• List the spaces and requirements of each separately in two columns. Sketch on butter paper or similar the relationships required in a potato or bubble diagram. Refer to New_Home_Planning
• Reason, why you are making the design decisions that you do and note them down as margin notes beside the columns.
• Develop the requirements, sizes of each room in relation to and over the top of the measured draft, trying to incorporate as much of the existing as possible. Use standard drafting techniques to produce the sketch plan. During this design development start exploring appropriate colours and finishes for your scheme or theme.
  How_to_Create_a_Colour_Scheme , The Colour Scheme Form
• If you determine it necessary to demonstrate concepts, provide a wow factor, or you want to provide a 3 dimensional explanation of the relationships, draw either in freehand or a measured single point perspective. For larger projects allow time as the resource is time consuming.
• List each room and in separate columns. The walls, floor, ceiling, doors, trim, skirtings, hardware, light fittings and electrical switches and sockets, soft furnishings and furniture. Determine the type of finish, covering, hardware, light fitting, colours and textures by finding the predominant colour, texture, finish appropriate to your scheme and list in the schedule.

• Record the meeting formally no matter how well you know the client. Try and get your client to ask questions at the end of the presentation rather than during it. Make the presentation with the plan first, explaining your reasoning, the colour and finishes board next, explaining where and why, and the perspective last, which will help the client visualise and also explain most questions. Record all questions and answers. Finally give the client a written copy of your original brief method of design and design resolve. Get the presentation signed off if possible.
• From the notes taken and the formal minutes of the meeting consider what revisions are needed to meet the clients expectations. Note why you are changing and what you will do to achieve this. Get this back to the client as confirmation. (This is easier said than done however remember that usually only a very small percentage of clients are difficult. The majority approach a design project with a positive attitude). Use a two or three column list stating what is changing, why and how to resolve it.
• Go through process 7 again. When your client is satisfied ensure that this is recorded and that the colour board (or copy of it) and sketch plans are initialled as confirmation of the design being signed off. Copy these for your records and the clients.
• Confirm with local council planning bylaws again and refer to your building codes for the construction and design drawing details that follow the sketch plan.

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