As part of the lead consultant/designer role, architects must take on responsibilities that extend far beyond the design. They need to manage increasingly large and complex teams of consultants, define roles and responsibilities and take care of the design programming, coordination and reporting. It’s time-intensive work, work that moves architects further away from actually designing buildings to spending their days managing processes.
That’s where we come in.
We are design managers with sector-wide experience and services that flex to fit each project’s unique requirements. We are not project managers and don’t work for developers or clients. We work for you, the architect, providing day-to-day support that frees you to focus on what you do best – creating high-quality design.
Our approach is positive and proactive, encouraging collaboration while creating clear lines of communication so that we can drive projects forward together.
Our design management services and tools are designed for architects and tailored to fit each project’s requirements.
Design Strategy and Leadership
Design success depends on project objectives being clearly captured, justified and communicated to those leading the project, whether client-appointed advisers, client stakeholders or third-party interests.
We have vast experience in facilitating this process, ensuring the scene is set accurately from day one to avoid unnecessary disruption later down the line.
Appointments and Contracts
Design team members need to understand who is responsible for what and when they need to prepare information. A key part of setting up the project in the best possible way is to ensure responsibilities are clear and there are no scope gaps or overlaps.
We work with architects, pulling together comprehensive appointment documentation, allowing them to focus on the design.
Design Programming
Design programmes are valuable tools, but many hastily prepared Gantt charts do not accurately reflect the design process.
Working in collaboration with the design team, we create Design Route Maps. These go beyond the usual tables and charts to express the design process clearly and precisely.
Reporting and Progress Monitoring
We collate and coordinate concise but comprehensive monthly reports so that all the design team members clearly understand the project’s overall objectives and deliverables.
By providing the correct information at the right time, we can ensure the project lead and client are aware of the critical issues and have all the information they need to make decisions.
Project Structure and Organisation
The Design Management Plan is a valuable document describing the framework, strategies, practices and procedures for executing and delivering the project.
We’ll collaborate with the design team to prepare the plan, clearly outlining the project objectives based on the strategic brief, participants, responsibilities, procedures and control processes, often using schedules and diagrams to communicate critical workflows.
Brief Definition and Change Management
We support the architect and client early in the process, helping them define and refine the project requirements to prepare the Initial Project Brief’s key components.
By defining the brief in sufficient detail early on, we can provide direction to the team and ensure the design process progresses without having to revisit fundamental requirements that prevent the Concept Design from moving forward.
Competition Support
Design competitions offer fantastic opportunities but delivering on the client’s goals and aspirations can take up a lot of the designer’s time and energy.
We support architects by providing design management methodologies, programming advice, fee advice based on current market trends, team fee collation, guidance on potential consultants and collaborators, and responses to the design management aspects of the competition requirements.
What Plan A do is handle process stress and strain so architects and designers can focus on what they do best.
