Design Development

Design development involves translating the schematic design into a precise CAD model that shows the actual dimensions of all the rooms, all the details about the windows, doors, utility areas, and other specific dimensions. It is also when decisions about the actual style of timber structure are made, as well as choices of materials for exterior and interior finishing.

This is what most people think of as  design , but it is really the refinement of the main ideas created in the Design Concept. This stage also provides better visualization tools, such as 3D modeling and realistic rendering, so that the design can be better understood and  lived in by the clients. It is crucial to take the time to make any last changes to layouts or room sizes at this point, because once the design enters the next phase, changes can become expensive.

In most cases, drawings from this stage may be used to arrange financing, and contractors will generally provide a preliminary bid for budgeting purposes. This is also the typical stage to present a design to your architectural review board, if your development has one.