Project Proposal
An interior design Project Proposal (or, Design Proposal) is a document that is provided to a
potential client that needs interior design services. A proposal is a written document with an
informative yet succinct title. A project proposal reads easily, is informative, and adds to the
understanding of the project.
A project proposal also serves as a guide to the design research an interior designer will
undertake in any project. The Project Proposal is the first and initial step in design process that
defines the design problem and reports essential information on the industry, client, and
project under investigation. Project Proposal focuses on “WHAT is to be researched” and sets
the stage for the project.
Stages of the Design Process
A project proposal is developed between the predesign and design development phase of
the design process. Here are some examples of how design firms stage their proposals.
Program & Programming
As you might notice, program and programming are an important part of the project
proposal. But what do these terms mean? Let’s have a closer look at them.
Interior designers provide building design services to create comprehensive solutions for
specific intended purposes or uses called “programmed interiors”. Interior design process
begins when the intended purpose for a project is presented to the interior designer. Typically,
this presentation includes a rough ‘program’ and the ‘site’ (or the existing building / shell1).
Definition of Program
Based on the intended purposes and rough program provided by the client, interior designer
develops the “program”. The program defines the client’s, users’ and occupants’ needs and
spaces with the square footage required for each function.
So, the program can be defined as “a list that itemizes the spaces that must take place in the
building”. The program serves as an outline of the requirements of the building and describes
spaces with assigned square footage and description of function, use or activities.
1
Shell means the architecture of the existing building.
The spatial organization of most interior design projects is driven by the building’s function
and ‘building program’. Note that, the summary of goals, requirements, and restrictions
associated with a design problem and its solution is also known as the program.
Programming
The analysis of the program and project requirements is called “programming”. The process
of programming is accomplished by gathering, organizing, compiling, analyzing, interpreting,
verifying, and presenting the information necessary to understand the problem and solve it.
Programming is the process of managing information so that the right kind of information is
available at the right stage of the design process and the best possible decisions can be made
in shaping the outcome of the building design.
Programming is essentially a process of analysis, while planning (and design) is essentially a
process of synthesis. Programming is like detective work. It is a process during which
information about a design problem is collected, analyzed, and clearly stated to provide a basis
for design. So, programming defines a problem before trying to solve it with design.
Programming is problem analysis whereas design is problem synthesis.
Note that, programming is also the plan for the procedure and organization of all the resources
(staff, information, budget, etc..) necessary for developing a design within a specific context
and with specific requirements.
Tasks of Programming
Programming includes, but is not limited to,
• conducting research and discovering facts and information,
• identifying and analyzing the needs, goals, and preferences of the client and/or
occupant(s) of the space,
• evaluating existing documentation and conditions,
• assessing project resources and limitations,
• identifying life, safety, and code requirements, and
• developing project schedules and budgets.
Stages of Programming
Programming is used to arrive at a set of criteria and determine parameters, preferences, and
requirements on which the design is based, and by which it is later evaluated. When designers
are responsible for the program, they will conduct research, surveys, interviews, and studies
and compile inventories as part of the programming process.
The Programming phase can be broken down into four distinct stages:
1. Project Statement (Problem Statement)
2. Research
3. Program Document
4. Client Review and Approval
Problem Statement
The problem statement is a description of the design problem or issue the designer is studying.
It provides fundamental direction to the project. Statement of the design problem should
include the basic area of concern, the community of interest or organization, target population,
and perceived need for the study.
Project Statement
At the pre-design phase, interior designer prepares a project statement. Project statement
means problem statement. This initial problem statement (also called “project statement”,
“design statement”, or “design brief”) defines the project in very general terms. It introduces
the “Big Picture”. Project statement identifies:
• the client(s),
• the nature of the project (primary residence, holiday home, office, etc.),
• the location of the project,
• the purpose of the space, and,
• the extent of the design work.
The project is introduced with this introductory paragraph to the audience (client, coworker,
or reviewer). Project statement or problem definition should be clear and concise. Problem
statement includes significant and specific conditions while establishing a general direction for
the design project.
Project statement incorporates brief descriptions of the client, the site and context, and the
services that will be provided as an interior designer for this project including the actions that
he/she will take to meet the client’s needs, his/her intentions or goals for the space, and the
specific strategies he/she will use to accomplish them. Project statement is written for an
audience who knows nothing about the project.
Research - Program Analysis
Programming involves research and information gathering on the program items. It also
involves qualitative and quantitative analysis of user needs and spaces. Information gathering
includes,
•
Client profile and client's specific needs,
•
Analysis of site,
•
Analysis of existing building,
•
Space needs,
•
Adjacency needs,
•
Codes review,
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Budget requirements,
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Scheduling requirements,
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Human factors,
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Environmental responsibility, and
•
Social and cultural influences.
Program Document
The program document contains all the answers to the questions uncovered during the fivestep process and compiled into a written form. A typical written program document includes:
Statement of project goals and objectives
Project drivers
Client requirements
List of spaces and areas
Other programmatic information including:
code reviews
budget requirements
scheduling constraints
survey of existing conditions or site analysis
Standards
Programming is the ‘analysis phase’ of design where the range of functions, use, and activities
and standards for space allocation, configuration and layout are determined. Resources that
can be used for space allocation standards are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Design and Construction Standards Manuals published by the government (such as
Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. General Services Administration Public Buildings
Service)
Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning
International Building Codes
AIA Building Types series
State, county, and municipal, licensing and regulatory agencies
Textbooks
Precedents of Program Brief (search by space and building type)
Healthcare https://orf.od.nih.gov/TechnicalResources/Documents/DRM/DRM1.4042419.pdf
https://fgiguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2001guidelines.pdf
Examples of programming can be found at:
https://www.wbdg.org/files/pdfs/archprogramming_exhibit_a.pdf
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/estates/sites/estates/files/ucl_space_standards_guidlines_v2181002.pdf
References
Poursani Lecture Notes, 2012-2019, Art Institutes & UTSA
Spatial Strategies for Interior Design, Ian Higgins, 2015, Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
http://www.arch.ttu.edu/courses/2014/fall/4341/programming.htm
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