1. Chapter 1
The Design Process

2. Design is the process of solving problems.

3. Where to begin?

4. Design Process Client Profile/Interview/Problem Statement
Letter of Agreement
Programming and analysis
Conceptual/Schematic Design
Final Design Development
Contract Administration
Evaluation

5. Client Profile / Problem Statement
What is the nature of the project? vacation home, primary residence, rental home, office, restaurant, hotel etc.
Establish a client profile: a brief statement that identifies the client, location, project, purpose, and extent of work.
Little detail has yet been researched

6. Why is the initial meeting so important for both the designer and the customer?
Evaluate compatibility (don’t take every job, may not be profitable…)
Does the project fit the firms area of specialization , is there a reasonable time frame and does the firm have the appropriate staff load to complete the project.
Client can evaluate firms work.

7. A word about time frame…
Deadlines are critical in the design business.
Penalties may apply.
Work backwards from the expected completion date to set schedule for each phase.
If you see the time frame is not feasible, walk away or convince them that the time frame needs to be longer.

8. Letter of Agreement A legal contract between you and your client.
Outlines the responsibilities of the designer
Outlines financial obligations of the client for reimbursement, fees, time of payment
Serves to protect you from wasting your time on projects that may not come to reality or a client using a different designer
Get this contract signed before you do ANY work or you may be giving away your services!

9. Programming (5 – 15%) Information gathering – Research – programming
Identify and analyze customer needs
Interviewing customer and end users
User profile
Inventory products to be used
Lifestyle and Function
Relationships/adjacencies
Space allocations
Environmental factors
Mechanical systems (HVAC)
Psychological/Sociological
Economic factors – extremely important
Building codes
Design preferences

10. Programming is the Most crucial phase of the design process
“Good beginnings make for good endings”
You must be detailed and precise in your gathering or you will fail in the end result.
You will need to analyze the information, prioritize the need and the wants and if any questions come up, make sure to go back and get them answered.
You will write the program and the customer should review it and approve it before moving to the next phase of the design process.
FYI: A commercial program is sometime hundreds of pages in length. It is a document that will be used by the entire design team, architects, mechanical, structural, electrical engineers, and designers.

11. Commercial Programming
Budget for renovation, furniture and finishes.
Style preference, image.
Existing furniture, artwork and accessories to reuse.
Field measuring space, locating columns, outlets, network jacks, thermostats, HVAC returns.
Photograph existing space, inventory and new space
Determine codes and safety requirements that need to be met. (occupancy classifications, occupant loads, egress widths, ADA, etc.)
Determine the schedule/deadline
Determine space allotments or standards, adjacencies, privacy issues storage and filing needs (measure file storage).
Understand equipment needs, sizes use and location

12. Residential Programming
Personal Information
Age, number, sex, size, activities and relationships of everyone living in the house.
Stage in the lifecycle : flexible spaces
Lifestyle
Hobbies, activities, entertainment, meals, music games, TV, cooking etc.)
How long do they plan to live in the house.

13. Residential Programming
Taste…likes and dislikes of the family. How do you find this out?
Functional Goals
special needs, universal design, media room, home office, energy efficiency
Space Requirements:
How much sq. footage
Minimum of per person
See sample questions on page 10
Equipment Needs:
TV, cable, video, computers, security system

14. Residential Programming
Cost Estimates and budgets:
Most expensive purchase: Americans spend 2-4 times their annual income.
Kitchen and bathes are most expensive spaces
Sq. foot estimate vs. material and cost estimate
Know the avg. price per sq. foot in the neighborhood.
25% of income goes to house payment
How can you help customer save money?
Life cycle costing
Maintenance issues
Standard sizes, colors and finishes
Keep plumbing back to back
Plan ahead
Keep change orders to a minimum

15. Residential Programming
Site and orientation
Restrictions on placement, color, size etc.
Solar orientation, south windows, fading
Wind
View

16. Conceptual / Schematic Design
The formulation of preliminary broad-based concepts.
Written concept statement
Decisions on character, function and aesthetics
Matrix: indicates relationships of spaces
Bubble diagram 170, 171
Block diagrams 170, 171
Preliminary Floor plans/ space plan 19
Selecting preliminary color options
Preliminary furniture options

17. Matrixes and Bubbles

18. Block Plans

19. Schematic Floor Plan

20. Design Development (30-35%)
Approval from customer on schematic design has been given.
Construction Documents
Floor plan
Elevations
Sections
Furniture and finish plans
Power and Communication Plans
Lighting, Reflected Ceiling Plan
Write Bid Specifications
FF&E Spec Book
Work with other professionals
Electricians
Structural engineers
Mechanical engineers

21. Dimensioned Plan

22. Reflected Ceiling Plan

23. Sections and Elevations

24. Finish Schedules

25. Design Development Rendering

26. Design Development Rendering

27. Design Development Rendering

28. Contract Administration (5-15%)
All design decisions become reality – most rewarding of the phases.
Orders are placed.
General contractor, subcontractors begin building, installing products.
Coordination is critical in order for subs not to interfere with each others work.
Site visits become regular to check quality and to stay on schedule.
Punch list is established.
Furniture is installed.

29. Evaluation
Follow-up on job to measure the success of the products specified.
How effective was the design?
Did it meet the needs of the customer?
Are the products specified holding up?
Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) provides the professional designer with the information needed to evaluate and measure a successful or unsuccessful design