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Crafting a persuasive design proposal gives you the edge of winning a project. In this blog, we will talk about
How to Create a Compelling Architectural Design Proposals?
The successful proposal combines strong graphics, storytelling, and a focus on the client's needs. Architects think and analyze their design proposals in many different ways. Here are some of the tips to help you to create a compelling design proposal:
Show Design in Context - Thoroughly research the project alongside the real-world context. Depending on the complexity of the project, gather the data required and its existing condition. Supply much-needed information to justify the design proposal. You should perform the following:
define the size of the land,
investigate or observe the location of the terrain,
identify existing site conditions that may affect the construction of the building like the presence of natural resources like rivers and trees and human-made elements such as roads, buildings, and sometimes even the people.
Provide eco-friendly design solution - a perfect balance is necessary between the natural and man-made environment. Use the resources wisely provided by the natural environment and learn to conserve them in your design approach to building the human environment. Factors that may affect the built environment are the Sun orientation which will affect the positioning of the building and its spaces within, maximizing the potential use of natural light and air ventilation.
Create Compelling Visuals - Visualization speaks more and conveys the design concept more clearly. More often, winning projects are influenced by a clear and artistic visual presentation.
Clearly communicate your vision - Visual presentation may influence thedecision of the client but it would be more sufficient to say that Communication or the narrative can explain the design intent of the architect. This is to explain the reason why the Architectural design solution is done in a manner that the architect interprets. The architect's technical training suggests all the necessary design principles to come up with design solutions based on that principle together with his design philosophy.
Iterate Creatively - Craft a compelling narrative about the design approach aimed at providing a solution to a problem and emphasizing the benefits it will give to the end-users.
Offering a Design Consultancy is a great idea for architects to practice the profession and earn a decent income out of it. Here are Some of the tips and strategies you need to do in the development of the consultancy business.
1. Understand your Goals
Meaning, you need to identify what projects you want to undertake. There are different project categories you need to identify in order to focus on what you can do with your resources.
Getting started will be the biggest challenge where you have to do all the work in order to get the right project and the right client.
It would be good to create a profile where you can showcase your capabilities and the services you are offering. The profile will speak for itself. Clients look for the right person to entrust their hard-earned money for the construction of the structures they will require. The categories will vary from residential, commercial, institutional, recreational etc.
2. Make an Action Plan
The most important thing to do is to make an action plan. This is to define How will you get started? After defining your goal, the action plan will set the stage in making your dreams of establishing a Design Consultancy Business a reality. As an architect, you are well trained in making plans, this will also be a good quality you can adopt in doing actions towards achieving your goals.
How to Get Started?
Apart from organizing your portfolio to showcase your services, the next step is to write a business plan. Aligned with your goals, you can define clearly what you need to accomplish in a given time.
When do you intend to start your business?
What will be your Marketing Strategy?
Where do you get your clients?
How do you promote your services?
How much financial requirements you need to raise?
These are important factors you need to identify in order for you to get started. Which will lead us to the next step in the process.
Getting Organized
Organize yourself in terms of securing a license for your business and create your marketing portfolio. The business permit is your legal representation that you are ready to do business with your future clients. Then you can also create your office environment. To be physically visible to the market. This will include financial requirements and that will also be a big factor to know if you are ready to start your design consultancy business. There are some occasions where some architects started with small capital investments, they started from minimal investments using the social media platform to promote their services.
Formulate Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Contact agreements are integral part of the business. This will save you from future mistakes and responsibilities. Having a well-documented contract agreement will be beneficial in both parties because it:
Clarifies Your Relationships with the Client - as it outlines the expectations and responsibilities of each party to avoid misunderstandings in future endeavors. The project is duration is usually done from its initial idea up to the completion of the project. This will cover a longer process and having a clear understanding of your business deal will give a more lasting relationships with the client that can be a potential recommendation to future projects.
It will also provide legal clarity - as it can serve as evidence of the parties' intentions if disputes arise. Though not always a legally binding document.
Facilitates Communication - this will encourage an open dialogue and collaboration between two parties.
Defines Roles and Contributions. It will definitely specify what both parties are bringing whether its resources, expertise or other forms of support.
There are different key elements required to formulate an effective Memorandum of Agreement. These are the following:
Introduction - This will be a brief statement about the purpose of the MOA and who are the parties involved
Objectives - A clear description of the goals and outcomes expected from the memorandum of agreement.
The Scope of Work - The detailed list of the professional services rendered, contributions or actions that each party agrees to perform.
Roles and Responsibilities - Specifies the specific roles and responsibilities of each party. The architects' responsibilities are outline in the professional practice manual that clearly defines the architects' legal responsibilities in relation to the client, the public, colleagues and other allied professionals including the practice of the Code of Ethics. Whilst the client's responsibilities are outlined from their decision making and most importantly their manner of payments to the professionals involved in the whole process.
Timeframe; The duration of the contract and the schedules of payments
Financial provisions: Every step of the way involves money. The MOA outlines the schedule of payments upon completion of each stage in the design and construction process. Before the end of each stage, the architect submits a progress report that entails progress payments.
Amendments and Termination: This outlines the terms which the MOA can be modified or terminated.
Disputes Resolution: This outlines the procedures for handling disputes or disagreements that may arise.
Signatures: Legal signatures from both parties involved indicates the acceptance and understanding of the terms in the MOA.
The Memorandum of agreement is usually signed in the presence of a legal counsel, if not, have it reviewed before it is finalized. This is to ensure that the agreements meet the necessary legal requirements of both parties.
The Business Venture
This is getting more exciting; all your dreams projects will be captured here. Making your design a means for you to earn a living and get recognition of your outstanding projects. A well-organized business means that you have organized a team of designers, entrepreneurs, construction personnel and many more people who will be involved in your design and build career. The most fulfilling venture is to see your design built. There will be more agencies involved in the process, so your organizational structure and business venture system will have the biggest impact in sustaining your business. More satisfied clients mean more endorsement to your services. The word-of-mouth advertisement works well with your projects built showcase it all. This is the most dreamed situation for young aspirants.
As early as possible, create a mindset of becoming an entrepreneur with your craft. Designers often acquire business skills through experience and education, allowing them to successfully manage their own businesses or work in corporate environments. The Designers strong and creative problem-solving skills are beneficial to business.
Create a scope of services based on your resources. It would be better to scale up your scope of services when you are getting leads to a bigger design query.
How does your Business Plan Looks like?
Formulating your business plan is exciting and challenging. The business plan outlines the following.
Executive Summary
Branding (Business and Domain Name)
Market Analysis and Research
Operational plan
Marketing and Advertising Plan
Financial Plan
Target Market
The starting point of your marketing strategies is in your target market. This will help you identify where you do you find them. How will you create your presence and get noticed by prospective clients. You need to strategically get in front of them. Intentionally get involved in the place where they can be reached, get connections, make yourself known.
Licensing and Permits
This will be the licensing of the projects you will undertake. Apart from your business permit, the licensing required for the construction of the structure you are designing should be acquired. This will incorporate the necessary building laws that should be integral in your design approach.
The Marketing Plan
The most exciting part of your business. You need to have a well-defined cash flow. How much will you be charging for your professional fees. This will cover accounting your income and expenses to know if your business plan will become successful. This will also guide you in your business strategies. What you need to invest and how you will continually expand your business.
The is the flythrough animation of the Proposed Self-Sustainable Community Development Project. The aim of this presentation is to give an initial impression of the proposal and evaluate further if the design intent is implemented.
The Schematic Design Presentation
In this stage, the architect, based on his expertise and experience, gives his best interpretation of the design intent of the project, were, prior to accomplishing this, undergone so much time to come up with the overall impression through the use of 3d modeling of all the structures needed to achieve a self-sustainable community.
The flythrough animation ties everything together. There is more documentation submitted which will support the conceptual designs. The master plan, the individual plans of each of the buildings with 3d models and rendering of different views as shown in these examples below including those that were designed as we further develop the design:
The Early 3d presentation
The practice of architecture is in this particular project involves so much revising and refining of the design as we progress. You can see how the designs evolved and improved through time.
The design intent is to provide a commercial and residential structure that will be open to lot buyers who can incorporate their businesses within. The allotted lot, which is basically adjacent to the main road, is a good business strategy to reach a captured market within the vicinity.
Upon survey of the site, the proposal intends to incorporate facilities that are not available and provide activities that will welcome neighborhood and provide trades and income opportunities.
The Master Plan
Overall, there will be a combination of Commercial, Residential, Recreational facilities in this development.
The Development will come in 3 phases. The first phase will be the Self-sustainable Community Development project shown on the fly through animation. The next part will be a bigger area as shown. You can read related articles here: Subdivision Planning
Need More Sketchup Models?
You can find our contributions to 3d warehouse here.
Visualization is the major tool of Architects in expressing their design solutions to the design project. There are several ways to do the visualization, these can be a Graphic presentation of the whole design process, video presentation including animation of the scene. This will give clarity to the design intent of the architect as far as the design brief is concerned.
Here's a sample video presentation in the schematic design phase. As we progress in our design development of this unique house design, see and learn how each of these elements produce a synergy of what the architect wants to achieve.
The Design Thinking
In our Design Thinking, this visualization captures the story board which conveys an idea of how the house would look like in all sides, the major consideration of building orientation is executed and a walk thru of the interior space is shown with an imagery of the development process. It shows a spot of each of the major spaces needed to complete the house design and provide more information to the Interior designers as to what spaces are available for their design conceptualization or design thinking as well.
The spaces are arranged in a manner that will coincide with all the activities within the house spaces and how it will interact with one another like the linkage of the kitchen to the dining area, the living room to the options of going to the private areas like bedrooms or toilets, or to dining and kitchen areas. The common spaces are usually the halls where the access route is shown.
In our attempt to explain the details of spaces within the house, the walk thru can give the feeling and imagination of how it will go in actual. This virtual tour opens a lot of opportunities to think and evaluate the plan in connection with the design brief.
One basic question to ask is, "Are we able to provide a practical design solution?"
Visualization opens a new door of opportunity to explore design possibilities. So, the process continues, and the architectural design process brings closer to the conclusion of the Schematic Design stage. This will serve as the basis for making the decision on the part of the client. It can be another set of design thinking and modify what was made and update as per the client's approval.
There is other basis for making this design proposal a more acceptable project to be executed in the near future. The ultimate goal of the design brief is to make this design proposal into reality. The Architectural Design process then is geared towards producing architectural documents that will lead to the construction of the house designed.
The architect has the sole responsibility to ensure all the standard measures of providing architectural documents are within the industry's standards. Whenever the Architectural Design proposal was approved, this will guarantee the client that the house designed by the architect abide by the standards of building construction such as the building laws, the minimum standard requirements. maximum comfort ensuring health and safety of the users including all of the persons involve in the execution of the project.
The architect's responsibility is a very huge responsibility that it does not only ensure an outstanding design but design a house to change lives of the people going to use. How? by providing a shelter that will meet the needs of the end-user. This will include reachability, anthropometrics, proxemics, boost of their identity and character associated with their unique house design.
The Design Thinking is so critical and its basically designing for the people. The architect should possess a skill in psychology. in terms of relating to the needs of the client in defining their spaces requirements, knowing what satisfies them with their usual activity and providing that space for each individual need.
The Design Thinking Process
To understand better, the Design Thinking Process will guide you to make a wise decision in the design proposal, the Design thinking process includes different steps which include.
Empathy
Definition of the Problem
Ideate
Prototype
Testing
Empathy is learning about the end-user. Who are you designing for? There are different approaches to designing a space for a particular user. For House Designs, this will make your design more personal. The Size, Shape, color and other design elements can be specifically designed based on the need of each user. This will coincide in the design of interiors. Architecture design includes space programming and analysis of circulation pattern and accessibility of every individual within the house. How they go from one space to another and how they interact. What are the spaces that are common and what are the spaces that needs more privacy. Identifying the space requirements will somehow fall into the next step.
Definition of the Problem or Identifying the obvious and not so obvious problems and come up with a solution to the problem. For example, one member of the family is disable, it would be very difficult for that person to go from living to dining, to bedroom or to the bathroom. Using wheelchair as a means to go back and forth will influence the floor levels using ramps or avoiding multi-level floor adjustments.
Ideation means creating a solution to specific problem. As discussed above, the use of ramp can be the best solution to help the user transfer from one space to another using wheelchair. It would be a different space solution if the situation is differing from each individual user.
Prototyping is the next stage after identifying the problem. The solution will be carried over the space requirement. These are some of the parts of the architectural design thinking process. From the smallest detail to the overall design solution of the House Design. How all of these spaces impact the overall shape of the house. The architect's design is a unique phenomenon for each design requirements, it is authentic and brings different design character that's shapes the overall design of the house.
Testing is the last stage of the design thinking process. A scaled model or 3d model is done to further analyze the design solution. The virtual tour is a very useful tool in the testing of the design solution which leads us to the next step of the Design Thinking, the Visualization.
The Visualization in the Design thinking Process
Visualization in the Design thinking process is very helpful in completing the design proposal. The best presentation to convince the client of the design proposal. Some of the Visualization tools use by the architects are.
A concept board is one of the visual presentations used in the design and creative process. Architects, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects, Fashion Designers, Graphic Designers Product Designers used concept boards to convey their visions and ideas which inspires the client and provide a guide in the development of the project. It usually arranged in a collage showing images, texture, colors and other visual elements to communicate the design intention.
The key points of the concept board are to outline the Purpose, which is the starting point of the design exploration. This will capture the overall theme of the project, and help the client understand the direction of the project.
The components in the visualization are Images, Color Swatches, Texture and Materials, Typography and Inspiration.
The concept board facilitate discussion among the clients, designers and team members. This will allow collaboration among them and visualize the project to provide feedback.
The method of visualization can be physical or digital. Physical can be created on foam boards. Material samples and texture are viable in the design presentation in order to have an actual feel and touch which would give much better impact in the visualization process.
Digital forms are those that are assembled using software including 3d modeling, 3d rendering, animation and virtual reality tour.
The Architectural Design
The Architectural Design is the art of designing building. It is an art of drawing and crafting a design of a structure with the acuteness and functionality in mind. It is the imagination of the shape of buildings size, shape and scheme, consolidation of spaces, formation of geometry and artistry, blending with technology and aesthetics that will create a living space that resonates with the form and function. It encompasses various disciplines beyond mere construction, which includes space efficiency, color theories, design composition and technical details.
Some of the noteworthy Architectural Design styles include Greek architecture, Roman Architecture, Classical, Gothic, Victorian, Mediterranean, Modern, Post-Modern, Neo-futurist Architecture.
The Architectural Design Process
The systematic steps involve in creating this architectural design was painstakingly done in a way that it goes into a lot of sketches which is the initial visual tool used to define the building envelope. You can read this article "Crafting Distinctive Dwellings: Unraveling the Design Conceptualization Journey for a The Architectural Design Process". In this blogpost, you can see how the idea was generated. As a result, the shape was a metaphor of an Initial of the Client. This can be one of the many design approaches.
The standard architectural design practices pass through these stages. Upon the visual presentation of the architect, the client will use this basis for proceeding to the rest of the design process which are as follows: The Schematic Design Phase, The Design Development Phase, The Contract Document Phase and the Construction Phase.
The Schematic Design Phase is the Stage where design concepts are developed as shown in this article. There are more relevant Conceptual Design examples in this blogsite. You can see other related articles in our earlier blogpost. Links are in the description below.
The Design Development Phase are more technical drawing presentations that are relevant to the construction of the Design. The size, shapes and proportions are related to the building standards of the locality where the design will be constructed. The building code requirements varies from different locations in the world. The architect handling the design have the license and jurisdiction over the design and is the overall collaborator in the production of construction documents supplied by different allied professionals like the engineers with different specializations like; Structural, Mechanical, Sanitary, Electrical etc.
The Contract Document Phase are the next stage in the design process, where the design is awarded to the corresponding building contractor who will manage the construction activities. It is a process where the architect and the client will invite prospective contractors who are qualified to carry out the execution of the design in conformity with the architectural designs. The Estimated cost of the building will be under bidding process where contractors are invited to submit their own bids who can undertake the construction.
Finally, the Construction Phase is the actual construction activity where the winning contractor will do the building construction program for a duration of time required. All the details are in conformity with the building laws, the specification and the architectural plans.
The Provisions of the contract documents are based on the building code that shall encompass the safety of life, health and property.
The previous blog showcased the 3D modeling procedure, today we will explore the design conceptualization procedure for creating a distinctive house design by employing the same design illustration.
This is to document the entire process to show more related articles in pursuit of our design conceptualization techniques. This process or approach may or may not be similar to different architects' approaches to creating a unique house design. There are a lot of idea generation in this process and one of the methods in generating ideas I'm about to share with you.
This is the introduction part of the of the series Architectural Design Process in the Design Conceptualization of a House using Sketchup.
As part of the Process, the first one is how to Craft Distinctive Dwellings. We will unravel the methods and manage the process as we journey together.
Idea Generation in The Design Conceptualization Process
Design Brief
There are a lot of ideas that may come in the first place whenever you encounter design challenges to come up with a unique house design idea.
The first base to start your idea generation is the Design Brief given by the client. Whenever a client comes to you, He/she may already have ideas in his/her mind. This may be coming from a house they have visited or from a magazine they have seen. Any idea that comes out of the client is the starting point. The Design brief is a document for a design project done by the designer to the client. This outlines the whole scope of the project including all deliverables. This will be the reference for all design projects to evaluate the effectiveness of the design solution.
The Architect, After the initial meeting with the client, will incorporate all the different ideas that the clients want.
Note: There are other major factors needed to consider before making the design proposal, however, in this post, I will be dealing with .
Idea Generation
There are several ways to create any design composition of a unique house. Every idea is actually unique in a sense that it is not identical to any of other ideas that are generated by designers and even the clients who is the main decision maker if the project will be put into reality. Out of those many ways, let us consider one big factor, the visual effect of the design. The Spatial function is what we can consider one of the obvious factors. It integrates in three-dimensions the program elements and accommodates the multiple function and relationship of spaces.
The Form and shape of the house is dictated by its size and height requirement. As an architect, one of the ways to get a unique shape is to explore all of the possibilities that will match the theme of the design brief. There should be a Design Statement to start with. The design conceptualization process can be broken down into the outline as you progress.
This will include;
Identifying the problem,
Making Design Solutions to the problem,
Defining your Design Goals,
Objectives and
The Visualization of the design proposal from Sketch to 3d modeling.
Apart from these, there are other factors to consider in presenting a design solution to the client. There are several research required to do a more realistic design approach. This includes the site and contextual analysis, which will affect the size, shape and building orientation as it relates to the existing condition of the site. Some other factors like the views, lightings, air ventilation, topography, weather condition and the other physical features of the site.
The development of Plan Layout
Developing The plan layout is the first stage in the presentation of design concept. It will give you a better understanding of the different aspects required in the architectural design challenges. As part of the process, the research and data gathered are essential elements in making design solution. The shape of the plan will affect the form of the house.
The Architectural Form
Form is the primary identifying characteristic
of a volume. It is established by the shapes and
interrelationships of the planes that describe the
boundaries of the volume.
“Architectural form is the point of contact between mass
and space … Architectural forms, textures, materials,
modulation of light and shade, color, all combine to inject a
quality or spirit that articulates space. The quality of the
architecture will be determined by the skill of the designer
in using and relating these elements, both in the interior
spaces and in the spaces around buildings.” according to Edmund N. Bacon
The Design of Cities
The Design approach from this example is the exploration of unique design influenced by the form and shape of the house. The form has a relational property that govern the pattern and composition of the element. The perception of shape is derived from the initials of the client which was developed into a volumetric form to define the size, shape and height of the house.
This was further developed into a more defined volumetric composition and introduced the design elements to complete the house design, such as the placement of windows and doors creating a unique identity which became personal to the client. This is one of the many possibilities of creating a design composition.
The 3d Model
The Design conceptualization of a house using sketchup and other 3d modeling software are important in the visualization and conceptualization process. With the preparation of 3d model, the design can be more accurate in terms of determining the size, shape and proportion.
The Design Presentation
The whole process is an activity that is related to the practice of architecture in rendering the design services to the client. The conceptual stage is the stage where designs composition is developed and refined. Ending with the presentation of the design with the following documents that will justify the design solution of the design brief.
