As the name suggests, Design Development is the stage where you further nail down the specifics of your design. It’s when big ideas meet real life constraints. For your project to have any traction as it heads into construction documentation, certain key decisions need to be made. In the design development phase, you’ll answer questions like:

• What is the budget?
• What are the material selections? 
• What is the approved layout? 
• What is the highest priority? 

If you skip or rush through design development, you run the risk of moving forward without alignment between the development team and the design team. Without clear direction and buy-in, designers can spend time developing ideas that aren’t in line with the vision. Or developers can end up with expectations that aren’t in line with reality. It’s a recipe for failure, disappointment, and wasted time and money.