(Updated September 10, 2024) 

Integrated design is a valuable term for our design clients to know about no matter whether it is a:

• commercial design project or

• residential project like for a home renovation design or residential new build.

It is a professional term used by the design industry to define an approach to the communication strategy for the implementation of a design project. It establishes how a client, their general contractor and their design professionals work together. It is a valuable concept when a client wants a more hands on approach and needs to engage different types of engineers and professionals for a project.

Integrated design and this approach to teamwork brings together all the stakeholders in a project at the outset of design conceptualization. In other words, its purpose is to bring a team of consultants and professionals together with a client for a more cohesive and collaborative design. If we boil down the essence of these partnerships (sometimes called “third-party agreements"), everyone works independently but with sight lines to each other’s successful contributions.

Let’s discuss how we model this approach after something we call “the three-legged stool”.

In this article:

• Why Integrated Design

• Leg No 1 - The Client

• Leg No 2 - The Contractor

• Leg No 3 - The Consultants

• 3 Best Practices When Applying Integrated Design

• Seeking the best Professional Advice

Integrated design is often applied to large commercial projects that are often more complex.

Clients are pleased because they run smoother and communication and conceptualization moves seamlessly between the independent stakeholders, saving money and time in the overall project. But it doesn’t always need to be limited to large and complex community-based facilities and there are benefits of working with a design professional who understands integrated design approaches from the very beginning of a project.

Successful projects are often determined by the resulting design aesthetic. Human behaviour craves an experience that is majestic, awe inspiring and beautiful because is signifies a socio-economic status or class. While these are great values to hold, they may not signify a successful project because there are often challenges along the way. The reasons for an integrated design can also involve improving functionality, client journey mapping, and/or planning out a multi phase renovation design.

So, how do all the stakeholders unify under a belief or value that keeps the collaboration in focus?

The Three-Legged Stool™ Methodology

There are three components to every successful project, and these components are the legs of the stool. If one leg fails, the stool falls, and the user is no longer supported. If one leg is too long, the stool wobbles or even topples over, and vice versa if one leg is too short. The aim of the three-legged stool method is to bring balance to all three components: the client, contractor, and consultant.

Leg #1 - The Client

In our view, the client is the most important leg because, without them, there is no project. When there are multiple clients (or decision-makers) on a project, this can be frustrating for the other legs of the stool because decisions are being discussed during meetings or they can not agree on the priority of the decisions to be made, and invariably the project falls apart. When a Client can not trust either of the two other legs, this creates a hostile situation that is irreparable and the Client may risk losing the Contractor, Consultant, or both. How a client can support the other legs in the stool is by being present at meetings, making timely and sound decisions, avoiding scope creep, and applying payments to invoices in a timely manner.

Leg #2 - The Contractor

Without the contractor, the client cannot implement (or construct) the project. Contractors include all sorts of tradespeople, but usually a key figure to collaborate with is the construction manager or project manager. The skills and experience of a contractor are invaluable to the other two legs. How a contractor can support a client is by communicating well during the process, being involved in pre-design services with the consultants, and keeping the consultants informed of any schedule or site changes that affect the project in a timely manner. When a client becomes the contractor, there will often be delays in the project schedule, miscommunication of details, inexperience in the project details, and even difficulty with financial arrangements and logistics coordination.

Leg #3 - The Consultant

When it comes to designing the physical environment, there may be an Architect, Architectural Technologist, Interior Designer, Kitchen & Bath Designer and Decorator - or all of them. Some consultants may have the appropriate skills and experience for all or some of the parts. The consultant is primarily responsible for ensuring code compliance, bringing beauty to the design, and preparing documents for the contractor to utilize during implementation. For the consultant to support the client, they must be aware of decision paralysis, visual communication presentations, audible and written communication, and ultimately being the best fit with the right skills and experience for the client’s project.

3 Best Practices When Applying Integrated Design

1. Pre-design services offer tremendous value to Clients and Consultants when provided by the Contractor. Feasibility of a project takes a high-level approach but most times they require a level of experience and knowledge that are not necessarily possessed by the other parties.

2. Programming is critical to keep the design aesthetic, goals and objectives top of mind. Design professionals should consider preparing a program for every project, large or small, commercial or residential, to ensure that the details are not forgotten in the design and that the plan is executable.

3. Communication is like sugar and salt where no one has the same taste and sometimes less is more. Communication is essential for the Consultant and Contractor to maintain because all relationships break-down over communication. This means cultural awareness, respect, diversity, and inclusivity are important aspects of the human condition that need to be considered. There is also nothing more important that active listening and being non-confrontational. Everyone has a bad day, but let’s try not to take it out on each other and have a good time during the process.

Seeking the best Professional Advice

A dear industry friend of mine likes to remind us about the difference between opinions, advice, and recommendations, and I’m inclined to agree with her conclusions.

Opinions are based upon emotion and ego, not on fact or details. Advice is based on a broad-stroke type of situation and it may not be specific. And a recommendation takes all facts and analysis, plus professional experience, and provides a solution, or path forward.

So, with all this media opinion, it’s no wonder why this industry and design process is confusing to most home and business owners. If you want to talk to us about the right options for your design project, you should book a Discovery Call and find out more.