Avoid bad design adopt the right process

Once you have selected your team it is important
to understand the process by which your designer should operate. Here are the ten key steps in the design process:

1. Create – once the discovery and exploration stages have been completed your designer will prepare a detailed space plan (map) and concept scheme illustrating the look and feel of the office, encompassing their view on selections and choice of fixture and fittings. It is important at this point to ensure your Construction Manager gives a financial opinion on the project budgets otherwise you might be designing Versace.
2. Concept sign off – this is an important step for you, the client. Once you are happy with the office layout and look and feel, you should“sign-off”on these elements to enable the detailed design process to unfold.
3. Discovery – your designer should start by spending time with you to understanding you and your brief, particularly your timeframe and
your budget.
4. Building selection – visit your chosen building (or short listed buildings) alongside your designer to gain their opinion of what can be achieved with the design brief.
5. Building appraisal – your designer should prepare test fit plans to indicate that your chosen building will accommodate your occupancy brief. To achieve this they will need to obtain accurate plans from the building owner, or prepare measured plans themselves by surveying the building. If you don’t have accurate plans the project will go wrong.
6. Explore – your designer should consult with the key people in your business to understand their detailed requirements, in order to develop workplace standards and guidelines for your new fit out. Make sure you engage the right people in your organisation to help, otherwise your business may suffer.
7. Documentation – this stage takes your concept plans and ideas to a full documentation level where each element of the design is detailed for you to approve and sign off. Once signed off, these documents will form the basis by which the Construction Manager will build your fit out. Often a Building Services Designer will become involved in preparing the documents relating to the design of the air conditioning, lighting, power / data, fire and plumbing.
8. Approvals – prior to Construction your designer will provide you with a set of plans to submit to your new landlord and to the council for DA approval. Typically your Construction Manager will facilitate this process for you.
9. Implementation – your designer should be on hand during the construction stage to offer advice to any ambiguous site conditions that require design input.
10. Reflection – its useful to have your designer prepare a defects report against the finished product. They will identify any areas that have not been built according to the plans, or comment on any quality issues. This will future proof your fit out for the long term.