Building design is a collaborative process. My role, as a professional designer, is to lead you, the client, through the design process with the goal of producing the best design—and best end product—that we can. With your goals and vision and my knowledge and experience, we can work together to create something that is beautiful, functional, and sustainable. Below is the process that we will move through together to make your project a reality.

Every project is different and the design process is not set in stone so the outline below should be considered a rough guide. Some of these phases may overlap or happen concurrently and, in some cases, we may loop back to an earlier phase if, for example, an estimate comes in too high or design changes are desired.

For projects located outside New York’s Hudson Valley, the process will be different, especially in the latter phases of design. I’m happy to discuss how that would work during out initial consultation.

Initial Consultation

Every project starts with an initial consultation meeting. At the meeting, we will discuss your project goals and budget and I will answer any questions you may have about working together. Following the initial consultation, I will prepare a proposal that will outline the costs and timeline associated with the proposed design work. There is no fee for the initial consultation.

Project Planning and Programming

In this phase, which can also be called “Pre-Design Analysis,” we examine all of the needs and goals of the project as well as any existing conditions or constraints on the project. We will determine the number, size, and purpose of rooms and how those rooms relate to each other. We will create an online library of inspiring images and ideas and discuss strategies for incorporating them into your project. In a renovation project, this phase would also include the measuring of the existing building and the creation of a computer model to serve as the basis for initial designs. In a new construction project, this phase would include site analysis and testing for things like well drilling and septic.

Schematic Design

After the planning is complete, the designing begins. During this phase, I will create a number of simple schemes that achieve the goals we agreed on during the planning phase. We will meet to evaluate the different schemes and determine how to proceed. We may choose one of the schemes, combine elements from multiple schemes, or decide that none are sufficient. I will take what we discuss in our meeting, refine the schemes, and present them for more evaluation. Once we’ve agreed on a basic design, we can move on to the next phase.

Design Development

In this phase, we flesh out our basic design, filling in all the information that was missing from schematic design. Window details, material choices, and cabinet layouts are examples of design decisions that are made during this phase. Design development also includes technical decisions, such as structural, mechanical, and electrical design. The process for this phase is the same as Schematic Design, I will produce designs and we will meet to evaluate them. After our meeting, I will revise the designs and we will meet again, with each round of design and evaluation bringing us closer to our final goal.

Construction Documents

Once we’ve agreed on a final design, I will create a set of drawings for permitting and construction. This drawing set is essentially a giant, highly detailed set of instructions needed to complete the project exactly as designed. The many decisions made during the design process are recorded in the drawing set to ensure inclusion in the final build.

Securing Bids

After the drawings are complete, we will distribute them to prospective contractors for bidding. Together, we will meet with contractors, evaluate bids, and choose the best one for the job. We can also get estimates during the design phase to make sure that we are on budget, although we must be aware that the earlier in the process we get an estimate, the less accurate it will be.

Construction Administration

During the construction process, I will perform regular site visits to check on the progress, make sure that construction is proceeding as planned, and help troubleshoot, as needed. I will be in regular contact with you and the contractor and be available to answer any questions that may arise at any point.