Process

The design process helps break your project into manageable milestones and inform decision making along the way.

  1. Get in touch and tell me a little about you and about your project. Here are some questions to help get the conversation started.
    Contact: rachel@rachelravitchstudio.com
    Follow up: I will follow up promptly with upcoming availability to schedule a preliminary appointment.


  2. Preliminary appointment
    A free 1-hour consultation to better understand your project goals in order to generate a proposal for services.
    Follow up: Provide a proposal for services including a scope document, estimate and project schedule. Receive a signed proposal prior to starting Concept Design.


  3. Concept / Schematic Design

    In the concept design process, we begin a collaborative conversation to understand your goals by providing preliminary sketches, material studies, imagery, and floor plans. From these conversations, the project schedule is drafted along with preliminary building and zoning code analysis, systems analysis, and floor plans. By the end of the Concept Design, we are ready to prepare final drawings for fabrication and installation. 


  4. Design Development

    If your project requires a building permit or extensive engineering, the drawings will need to be upgraded to include these requirements. 


  5. Permitting

    Step 1: Schedule an intake date and submit the permit set of documents to the governing body. Alert your selected general contractor of the intake date and the projected time-frame for permit issuance to get on their schedule. 

    Step 2: Track the permit review process and respond promptly to permit corrections, alerting consultants to corrections as required. 

    Step 3: Once the permit is issued, construction can begin.


  6. Construction Documents
    While the permit is in process, we will work collaboratively to specify all the finishes and fixtures to be installed once the permit is issued so that you are ready to go once the permit is issued.


  7. Construction Administration

    During the construction process, it is common for questions to arise. Keep the project moving smoothly with a partner in the process. Common reasons you may want to engage our services during the construction process: 

    • Field questions: There will be times on site where the general contractor may require additional detailing or information. Keeping work on your project running smoothly keeps your overall project costs down. 

    • Material availability: Depending on the length of the design and permitting process, it is possible that some of the specifications will no longer be available or may have long lead times that could lead to project delays when it comes time to place the material order. Having the ability to readily come up with alternatives is key to keeping the work on your project running efficiently.

    • Decision making: You may want input along the way as the construction process advances. Scheduling walk throughs to confirm details proactively ensures work is being performed to meet your expectations. 


A practical approach to design documentation serving the Puget Sound region.