Design Counseling is a unique approach to offering design expertise with services charged at an hourly rate appropriate to the level of service requested.   It consists of providing ideas and information to clients who do not necessarily need the traditional array or delivery of professional design services.  Counseling entails collaborative meetings in which clients present their needs and circumstances and the Counselor helps identify and solve problems. The Counselor is a source of information in addition to actual design service.  The client will leave the meeting with a clear set of facts, some new ideas, and a specific list of the next steps to take. 

The Design Counseling diagnostic approach

Step 1 - Gather all possible data about the project.

Step 2 - Sort out the data to identify what is known for sure, what is not known, and what is undecided.

Step 3 - Create a diagnosis of what is needed with the client's agreement.

Step 4 - Fulfill task(s) and propose options for further action.

Examples of Design Counseling

• Advice on building codes or reliable data on construction costs and contractors.
• Guidance to help client do preliminary design and planning themselves.
• Provide client with ideas in regards to his/her property.
• Schematic plans, financing proposals, permits, material selections, etc.
• Recommendations and referrals: contractors and subcontractors, sources of materials, service providers, construction data sources.
• Project organization, "Idea Consulting" for home or commercial building additions, etc.

Potential Clients

• Developers & investors
• Corporations and large public institutions
• Tenant space owners
• Retailers
• School Boards
• Churches
• Hospitals and health care professionals
• Individual property owners

Benefits of Design Counseling

• Fast delivery on services requested.
• Low risk.  Services can continue to the next task, or terminate as the client so desires.
• Money efficiently and effectively spent.
• Works to minimize the client's costs and give fully objective advice.
• Service is client oriented, personable, efficient, clearly communicated, and solid.
• Clients pay for services as they are provided (weekly invoices in most cases).
• Available weekends and evenings.
• Meetings are completely private and confidential.
• Should the assistance rendered through Design Counseling lead to the requirement for full basic architectural / engineering services, the money spent on Design Counseling applies to the fee for full services.

The Design Counseling Studio / Office

• Comfortable, professional environment, a friendly but "let's get down to business" atmosphere, a complete set of tools and resources, and a willingness to listen and fully understand questions and problems before seeking answers and solutions.
• The couseling office is a "hands on" interactive design studio with reference library, computer, samples, etc...

What the client is asked to bring to the Design Counseling meeting?

• Site survey, map, and relevant property legal descriptions.
• Property inspection reports, soil reports, property appraisals...as applicable.
• Property photographs (recent, if available).
• Property and improvement measurements (if unavailable, this service is available).
• A "wish list" of what the client wants most from the project.
• A list of the most important questions the client wants answered.
• A list of secondary desires, needs, and concerns.
• Any and all clippings, notes, sketches, etc...pertinent to needs and ideas.
• A history or chronology of previous thinking, design, or work on the project.
• Information on monetary budget considerations.
• Information on scope requirements & considerations.
• Information on time considerations.
• Copies of anything completed on the project previously by other design professionals. A list of special services, fixtures, equipment, or materials that the client believes may be involves or may need more information about.