At the end of the day, if it feels right to live in and use a space, then the design is successful.

In order to get to this successful result I like to work with all the key people involved in the creation of the project as a team. The team usually includes some combination of the clients, myself, key consultants, the builder, essential subcontractors, and often municipal officials.

Today we are living in a time when it is especially important to apply careful thought and consideration to how much space we live in and how we make our space and how we live in our space.

Sarah Susanka, author of “The Not so Big House”, feels we can create well considered space with good quality design and forego a larger quantity of space.

It is important to me as a designer to make each project as sustainable and green as possible. Sarah’s sensibility aligns with my own in that together my clients and I can create a better result by focusing on a good design rather than on simply more space.

I try to integrate solid design principles with the concepts methods and means espoused by the US Green Building Council in the LEED program. There is often a give a take between some of the elements of the design, energy use, economics, and the environment. I always try to work out a reasonable consensus with other members of the project team

Sometimes, clients want more space because that is what they really need and then together we create their living space adopting as many ways to conserve as plausible given the scope, time, and the budget.

Sometimes, we can really do more with less.

Technical drawings require carefully planned details in order for the craft person building the project to understand the design fully and implement it accurately.

Communication and the free exchange of ideas are essential elements of a successful design process. Sometimes I will meet with a new client for a good portion day to find out what if what they are saying initially is really what they want and what they need.

I find that if I can listen and really hear what a client is asking for I can often express back to them their own ideas in the form of sketches and concepts.

The internet has brought forth a world market of possibilities for each project. I have had clients find things that make their project work in an essential way by finding key components on the World Wide Web.

Integrating all the elements of the design into a well written specification document helps all members of the project team understand the breadth and scope of the design as well as the underlying intentions. Hence I usually begin writing the specifications as early as during the programming of a project.

Last Modified : March 10th, 2009 Filed under : Design Navigate : Previous post / Next post