Pre design studies

The design process is generally considered to begin at the concept design stage.

It is preceded by a host of non-design activities, such as business justification, brief development, feasibility studies and options appraisals, and it is followed by design development, technical design, procurement, construction and handover and close out.

Whilst pre-design studies such as feasibility studies and options appraisals may include the prepration of diagrams to assess whether a potential site or building type is possible given the project parameters and constraints, they are not designs. They are intended only to help identify the client's requirements, establish that those requirements are feasible and determine whether the project should proceed in a particular direction.

The concept design represents the design team's initial response to the project brief, and the concept design stage is generally considered to be the most creative stage of a project's development.

For more information see:

• Business justification
• Brief development
• Feasibility studies
• Options appraisals
• Concept design
• Design development
• Technical design
• Procurement
• Construction
• Handover and close out.