DRAFTING & interior DESIGN
When undertaking a renovation or new build project with a designer, you may hear buzzwords like ‘design’ or ‘drafting’. While you may already have some idea of what these words entail in terms of the design process, they can be used interchangeably which can be confusing. Below we have outlined these two distinct stages of interior design work to help you understand what to expect when working with an interior designer.
Both drafting and design are important steps of the creative process when working with a designer. When your designer talks about drafting, they are typically referring to the technical drawing, or 3D model making of your design. In its simplest form, drafting might mean taking measurements of your existing space, using CAD (computer-aided design) software to draw up your space, and then transforming it into a 3D model or drawing package.
It's often at this point in a renovation or new build project that the designer will start the actual ‘design’ process. The designer combines and considers all of your design criteria – the number of rooms, square footage, layouts, etc – and tests out what will work design-wise using CAD software.
Once you and your designer have contentedly landed on a plan, the designer will likely undergo another period of drafting. This period of drafting is usually to flesh out the more technical aspects of your design ensuring it meets all important building codes, that the sizes and spaces are appropriate, and that the design can be efficiently and economically constructed.
The designer will also add all of the technical details such as wall assemblies, dimensions, doors and window sizes, floor finishes, wall finishes, roof pitches, and heights. This is a critical step to make sure all of the appropriate authorities and building professionals can easily and effectively understand the design intent and construct it exactly the way it is designed.
You can think of ‘designing’ as the problem solving and creative aspect of pulling together spaces, picking materials, combining and communicating ideas, and overall intent. ‘Drafting’ is the more technical side of drawing and modelling when we ensure codes and standards are met and when critical and technical information are added to the drawing packages. Design & drafting, while distinct stages of the design process, inform each other and having a clear understanding of these phases will support your work with your designer.
