EVERTEK

Product Design Services

Design drawings are used to develop and communicate ideas about a developing design:

In the early stages of the project phase (during the design and tender process) they might simply demonstrate to the clientthe ability of a particular design team to undertake the design. They may then be used to:

• Develop and communicating the brief.

• Investigate potential sites and assess options.

• Develop the approved idea into a coherent and co-ordinated design.

• Communicate the developed design to other parties, such as the local planning authority, the building control body, contractors and suppliers.

• Record the completed construction.

• Record ongoing changes to the completed construction.

Some of these drawings are not traditionally considered to be ‘design’ drawings, as either the design proper has not begun, or the design has effectively already been completed. However, almost all of them will include some element of an investigation into, or development of the design, or they would serve no purpose.

Very broadly, design drawings are categorised as:

• Feasibility studies.

• Options appraisals.

• Concept drawings. Some designers will differentiate between 'conceptual design' and 'schematic design'. In this case, the 'concept' is the initial design idea, whereas the 'scheme' develops the concept, taking on board more functional and practical considerations.

• Detailed design drawings (or developed design drawings).

• Technical drawings.

• Tender drawings.

• Shop drawings, installation drawings and construction drawings.

Design drawings will develop in detail from block and massing drawings and sketches to very detailed technical drawingsdescribing every component in a way that will enable them to be constructed and operated.

When developing design drawings, it is important to consider what their purpose is, what information they are intended to convey and who they are intended to convey it to. This will determine their format, content, size, scale, and so on. For example, design drawings prepared for an inexperienced client may need to be very clear and to present only necessary information, at a scale and format that the client can easily view and share. Drawings for suppliers, on the other hand, may need to be very detailed and in a format that can be used for fabrication.

Design drawings may be prepared by a number of different practitioners, such as; architects, technicians and technologists, structural engineers, civil engineers, building services engineers, interior designers, landscape designers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and so on. Some elements may first be designed by one individual or organisation and then taken on and developed by another.

It is important therefore that they are carefully integrated and co-ordinated to ensure that all elements are designed to an appropriate level of detail at the right time, and that designs prepared by different members of the project team create a single, unified set of information that can be constructed without clashes between components.

Typically, a lead designer will be appointed whose role includes integrating different aspects of the design and their interfaces into the overall design. Amongst other things, this may involve:

• Ensuring collaborative practices are adopted.

• Coordinating quality control systems.

• Adopting standard methods and procedures.

• Coordinating the preparation and issue of production information to contractors and suppliers.

• Reviewing designs prepared by contractors and suppliers.

Different parts of the design team may also have design managers with an enabling and co-ordinating role.

EVERTEK

Flagship Items

Evertek's novelty interfaces with additional functions.