Our Design Process

At Design Three, our guiding principle is rooted in respect—respect for our clients and their unique vision. This core belief shapes every decision we make throughout the development process. We see design as a harmonious balance between collaboration and coordination, creativity and practicality, empathy and aesthetics. Our mission is to ensure that your personal goals are not only acknowledged but fully integrated into the project.

With a team of skilled designers and craftsmen, we value your time and involve you in key decisions, paving the way for exceptional results. Our ultimate aim? To surpass your expectations.

DISCOVERY
We start by listening carefully, learning about you, and understanding your vision.

EXPLORATION INTO SOLUTIONS
Through thoughtful inquiry, we identify the right approach and present a range of schematic options. Together, we decide on the best solution tailored to your needs.

DELIVERY
With a meticulous and dedicated process, we provide detailed documentation and fulfil your requests, ensuring a seamless experience before, during, and after your project’s completion.

Step By Step

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Step 1

Fact-Finding and Program Development

Every project begins with understanding you, the client, and evaluating the site. We thoroughly analyse the property and its surroundings, noting every detail to anticipate key elements such as views, topography, and site conditions. We also delve into local zoning codes, legal parameters, and, if applicable, research environmental considerations like wetlands or coastal restrictions that may influence the development process.

It is essential that we learn as much about you as possible. When designing a space—especially a home—we strive to create something that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and beneficial for your day-to-day life. Design, at its core, is about enhancing the way you live, making your life easier, more functional, and more enjoyable.

We explore your vision by asking questions that help shape the project: What ideas do you have? Have you collected images or examples to illustrate your vision? What architectural styles or aesthetics inspire you? These conversations are vital during this initial phase, as they allow us to understand not only your programmatic needs but also your creative preferences and personal sensibilities.

By the end of this step, we aim to have a complete understanding of both you and the unique physical context of the site, setting the foundation for a design that seamlessly reflects your vision and enriches your lifestyle.

Step 2

Site Strategies

In the second phase of the design process, we take the insights gathered during the initial fact-finding stage and explore how to seamlessly integrate the design objectives with the existing site conditions. This is where we assess the site’s challenges and opportunities in greater depth, always with the client’s needs at the forefront.

We analyze options for driveway layouts, explore potential house placements, and begin aligning the site’s characteristics with the interior functions of the home. By this stage, we often develop loose programmatic diagrams, which serve as the foundation for schematic floor plans that will evolve in subsequent phases.

Is the site located in a densely packed residential neighborhood requiring careful screening for privacy? Or does it sit on an expansive parcel of natural land with sweeping views or a distant ocean horizon? These considerations guide our thinking about exterior elevations, the configuration of interior spaces, and the orientation of rooms. We also anticipate window placement to maximise light, views, and privacy.

Site strategy is the cornerstone of a successful design, shaping how a home will be used and lived in. It lays the groundwork for a design that harmonises with its environment while fulfilling the practical and aesthetic goals of the client.

Step 3

Schematic Design

In the Schematic Design phase, we refine the information gathered thus far and start shaping it into a clear and actionable roadmap. This is where ideas take form, and we collaborate closely with the client to explore strategy options and discuss how these concepts can evolve into a cohesive and successful design. Often, we begin with freehand conceptual drawings, allowing them to develop as our conversations uncover and address key design opportunities and challenges.

Using all available data, we create preliminary floor plans and elevations for client review. To further clarify and explain our vision, we produce three-dimensional massing studies, two-dimensional drawings, and color renderings. These tools help to visually and tangibly express the direction of the design.

At this stage, we also initiate the development of a preliminary construction budget. While creativity flows freely during this phase, unrestrained by the detailed realities of cost and construction, Schematic Design serves as a bridge between imagination and practicality. It allows us to test and refine ideas, ensuring the design aligns with both the client’s vision and the unique site characteristics.

Step 4

Construction Documents

Once the overall plans and elevations are approved by the client, we advance our drawings into a detailed bid or pricing set. This phase involves refining the design into technical drawings and specifications that will guide the construction process. We develop precise details for custom features, such as interior millwork, and document materials, hardware, and finishes. As always, we encourage client input, ensuring their vision remains integral as the design transitions from creative concepts to practical execution.

During the Construction Documents phase, structural and mechanical systems previously considered are finalized and fully coordinated. We collaborate with consultants to integrate trade drawings into a comprehensive architectural package with clear specifications. Engineers address technical details related to the design’s structural integrity, while HVAC contractors map out heating and cooling systems.

Additionally, we finalize detailed schedules for windows, doors, and fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms. This phase is about precision and coordination, ensuring every aspect of the design is clearly outlined and ready for construction to begin.

Step 5

Tender stage

During the Tender phase, we assist the client in selecting at least three contractors to bid on the construction documents and provide detailed pricing for the project. Our team prepares an itemized bid analysis to evaluate and compare the bids side by side. This analysis ensures that all information is presented on an even playing field, making it easier for the client to make an informed decision when selecting the best builder for their project.

At this stage, value engineering becomes an essential tool for managing and controlling costs. By analysing the bids, we identify areas of significant expenditure and pinpoint opportunities to save without compromising the integrity or vision of the design. The goal is to stay within budget while ensuring the final result remains true to the client’s aspirations.

Step 6

Construction Administration

With Construction Documents finalised, bids reviewed, and a builder selected, the construction phase begins. Our team remains actively involved, visiting the site as needed to evaluate progress, monitor the build, and address any questions that arise as the design transitions from paper to reality. Regular site meetings and ongoing communication between the general contractor, subcontractors, architectural team, and client ensure everyone remains aligned and engaged throughout the process.

From site preparation to laying the foundation, framing, and fabricating the various components of the project, seeing the design come to life in the field brings a whole new dimension to our work. During this phase, we collaborate closely with the client to ensure the vision we conveyed in the drawings is faithfully realized in real time, delivering a result that meets expectations and upholds the integrity of the design.