By now the sketch design is signed off – the size, location, form and probably external materials are all agreed. Your designer can now develop the secondary elements of the design and begin co-ordinating the work of sub-consultants. At the end of this phase, all aspects of the project should be defined for your Developed design.
What you need to do for a Developed design
- Attend design meetings and provide clear and timely feedback on material selections and design details for things like balustrades, pergolas, kitchen and bathroom layouts.
- Review the revised cost estimate.
- Approve sub-consultants and pay their fees.
- Sign off on developed design drawings.
- Pay the designer’s developed design fee.


What your designer will do
- Develop the drawings and documentation to send to sub- consultants such as the structural engineer.
- Integrate and co-ordinate sub-consultant designs into the architectural drawings.
- Develop door and window details, cladding and roof design, interior details, and timber and steel sizes. This allows a more accurate cost analysis.
- Start designing services: electricity, gas and phone locations; plumbing and drainage; preliminary lighting and electrical plans.
- Write the draft specification.
- Review design development with you at key stages.
- If a Resource Consent has been submitted, answer any queries from the council.
- A Building Consent can be applied for at this point.
- Tenders prepared and sought from builders.
- If some elements are not fully detailed due to time constraints (e.g. kitchen cabinetry or lighting selection), your designer will allow a provisional sum in the tender documents.
