Project planning guide

Before the first sketch: build a useful project brief.

A clear brief gives a design conversation direction. You do not need a finished plan to begin. A few specific observations about the space, its users and the questions ahead can be more useful than a long wish list.

1. Describe the purpose.

Explain what the space needs to support. A home may need better connections between rooms, a quieter retreat or more useful storage. A business may need a clearer arrival experience, better product display or a layout that supports daily operations.

2. Separate needs from preferences.

List the things that must work, then the qualities you would like to achieve. Daylight, privacy, circulation, material character and maintenance can pull a design in different directions. Identifying priorities helps make those tradeoffs visible.

3. Gather what already exists.

Bring available drawings, photographs, site information and notes about existing conditions. Mark the information you know is current and the questions that still need investigation. A photograph can show a concern; it does not replace a survey or specialist assessment.

4. Put timing and resources in context.

Share your preferred timeline, any fixed dates and the budget parameters you are considering. Keep assumptions explicit. Scope, approvals, material availability and existing conditions may affect the route forward.

5. Define the next decision.

The next step might be clarifying a layout, comparing concepts or identifying the information needed before a proposal. Agree which deliverables would be useful, who is responsible and what needs to be resolved before moving on.