Architectural Design

2nd ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: CPD0810-27/4028

008-033 Chapter 1 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 8/17/10 6:00 PM Page 26

The design studio

Design studio projects

Developing a design project

Once the design problem has been understood and restated,

the designer will begin to make decisions on the focus and

direction of the project. Experimentation and testing through

drawings and models continue but these should become

more defined. This definition often arises from a decision by

the designer to focus on a few particular issues each time;

for example, entrance to the site, relevant local social issues,

how to build with a particular material.

During the design development phase ideas are refined,

decisions made and complexity increased. Drawings and

models explore the proposal in part and as a whole, moving

back and forth between the general and the particular. This

may lead to a questioning of decisions made in the earlier

phases and often requires a return to an earlier stage to

make changes before moving on again. At various stages

along the way judgements need to be made about how to

represent and communicate the work. Learning new skills

and how to use new tools will help support and develop the

design work. No two architects follow exactly the same path.

It is quite usual to jump between stages and to deliberately

return to others. It is very normal, necessary even, to get

stuck and make mistakes that can be learned from. It is

important for you to breathe life into the project and

contribute to its direction by participating in the debate

going on in the design studio.

Professional design projects

Projects in a professional environment follow a broadly

similar rhythm to student projects with early analytical and

experimental phases, the development of the brief with the

client and preliminary sketch designs developing into more

resolved proposals. Regular client presentations and design

reviews with colleagues in the office are similar to crits.

Text

2nd ProofTitle: BA: Architectural Design

Job No: CPD0810-27/4028

008-033 Chapter 1 final_.qxd:layouts to chapter one 8/17/10 6:44 PM Page 26