IDIAMM

Do you know what your doing…? Genuinely do you have a process, a series of protocols to follow to get from an idea or an image to something substantial that works all on all fronts i.e. ergonomically, functionally, aesthetically, BCO compliant, and buildable?

If not why not?

The sooner you have a series of “stage gates” to pass your design through, the sooner you will save time and effort, your design will have a solid foundation and you will progress your design at speed, with confidence and focus on the areas you want to and not shoe horn in a design at the last minute.

So how do I do that? Let’s say you have a restaurant to design. Let’s get the basics done first:

1. Stage gate 1 – understand your brief. Think about pax (number of guests/tables/bar requirement. Think about staff numbers v users % and how many work where and why. Think about number of wcs required. Think about facilities required, stores, kitchen and inner rooms, think about entrance, exits, think about opening – closing times, type of restaurant and why, client base, think brand, style but don’t hang too much on this bit just yet…once you have understand and noted all of the above you move to the next gate…
2. Stage gate 2 – block plan, circulation and flow.  Focus on all aspects of space, what goes where, why and justify it. Think SQM and why. Thi K about all aspects of staff and user circulation, flow space functionality, think user experience, think staff requirements and think outside the box i.e. refuse waste removal, deliveries and what area goes where and justify it.  This could be just circles, squares with arrows…up to you but make sure everything has a SQM, a location and why. Space association is key here so make sure it works…
3. Stage gate 3 is why it starts to get real. Ergonomics are key here so get the basics right. SQM every area, corridor and walkway widths and start working into that plan. Step I to that plan and focus on getting the basics rigjt. It doesn’t have to be styled yet (only god sees your plan in real life and no one else) so you focus on adapting stage 2 to make it more real. Also think about building regs to get your spaces to real world standards and expectations re fire escape routes, travel distances but also consider cross circulation issues and eye line – noone wants to be sitting opposite a WC lobby door or views straight into a kitchen or store…
4. Stage gate 4 is where you see step into your plan and starting building up elevations, hero shots, spaces to make it 3D and what do you see and why. Now you understand if your ergonomics have worked, eye lines, functionality too. What you draw in plan only really works when your in that plan understanding what it’s really like in the space..
5. Stage gate 5. Now you get creative re brand, style, focus, tiering, finishes, design standards,  details etc and the points you thought about / touched on as an idea only in stage gate 1 but now you have something to really build on with confidence as you know it works.Yes you can shape n stylise your plan but retain the foundation from gates 1-4 for good reason…

What’s key with the above is that you never pass through each “gate” until you have signed your design at that “gate” first to be able to get to the next one. Ask yourself the hard tough questions before anyone else does to build a justified strong  design.

Do this and you are saving time, building confidence in your work and getting industry ready.

Demonstrate this to a potential employer as your process and show you are more than just a graduate designer, you are industry ready…a