Five Phases of Interior Design
Interior design is an important part of a home environment or a business setting. The design of the inside of the building can be just as important as the outside, because inside is where people spend most of their time. To get the right details in place to create the ideal living or working environment, designers go through a series of phases that are basically the same for all their projects. There are five major steps in developing and completing an interior design project. Does this Spark an idea?
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Programming
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Programming, also commonly referred to as predesign, is the phase of the project in which the designers gather all the information about the job and analyze the site. This is when the client expresses his expectations or desires. The site is inspected; the building analyzed for best use of space, and the design team logs all the data so they can begin conceptualizing the project.
Architectural Concepts
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The next phase of interior design is the most artistic part of the process. The lead architect or designer ponders the architectural design, depending on the scope of the project. Conceptual drawings are made to aid in visualizing what the final project will look like. This is an opportunity for the client to see what the designers have come up with and either approve or make changes to the vision. The sketches help determine general layout and provide some base information for more specific documents needed for the construction.
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Technical Documents
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The technical, or construction, documents are the blueprints or schematics used to guide the contractors as they perform the work to complete the project. Architects, engineers, designers and other professionals, depending on the scope of the project, use technical documents. This phase is primarily to work out all the technical parts of the project. However, some design elements have to be finalized at this time, including specific light fixtures and ceiling fans. The technical documents may also include materials prepared by electricians or plumbers.
Bidding the Job
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The designer must find all of the people necessary to complete the project and do it on as small a budget as possible to maximize profits. To find contractors who can complete the work, designers open the job to bidding from several potential partners. This phase has little to do with the actual project, aside from choosing a reputable contractor for the various parts of the job. The negotiations eventually conclude with all the necessary people on board to get the job done at the best possible cost.
Construction and Administration
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The final stage of the interior design process is the construction of the project. Workers physically install all the elements necessary to bring the vision to life, and the designer, architect or other person in charge of the project is there to oversee and administrate the process and report progress back to the client.
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References
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