Developing a design project

During the design development phase ideas are refined, decisions made and complexity increased. Once the design problem has been understood and restated, the designer will begin to make decisions on the focus and direction of the project. 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. No two architects follow exactly the same path. 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. Experimentation and testing through drawings and models continue but these should become more defined. Learning new skills and how to use new tools will help support and develop the design work. It is quite usual to jump between stages and to deliberately return to others.