Lecture  3  
 
Research  &  Design  Process  
 
(Programming    
Phase)  
 
 

BY  RAMONA  SOLOMON  
  
 
Interior  Design  Programming  is  the  
research  and  decision-­‐making  
process  that  idenCfies  the  scope  of  
work  to  be  designed.  
THE  DESIGN  PROCESS  
 
 
The   interior   design   process   follows   a   systemaCc   and   coordinated  
methodology,   starCng   with   research,   analysis   and   integraCon   of  
knowledge   into   the   creaCve   process,     whereby   the   needs   and   resources  
  an   interior   space   that   fulfills   the  
of   the   client   are   saCsfied   to   produce  
project  goals.  
 
•  Research   and   analysis   of   the   client’s   goals   and   requirements;   and  
development   of   documents,   drawings   and   diagrams   that   outline  
those  needs  
•  FormulaCon   of   preliminary   space   plans   and   two   and   three  
dimensional   design   concept   studies   and   sketches   that   integrate   the  
client’s  program  needs  and  are  based  on  knowledge  of  the  principles  
of  interior  design  and  theories  of  human  behavior  
•  ConfirmaCon   that   preliminary   space   plans   and   design   concepts   are  
safe,  funcConal,  aestheCcally  appropriate,  and  meet  all  public  health,  
safety   and   welfare   requirements,   including   code,   accessibility,  
environmental,  and  sustainability  guidelines  
Programming  
   
The  Designer  collects  and  analyses  the    informaCon!    
 
The  Designer  usually  meets  face-­‐to-­‐face  with  the  Client  to  find  out  how  the  
space  will  be  used  and  to  get  an  idea  of  the  Client's  preferences  and  budget.  
 
The   Designer   also   will   visit   the   space   to   take   inventory   of   exisCng   furniture  
and   equipment   and   idenCfy   posiCve   aZributes   of   the   space   and   potenCal  
problems.  
 
For  example,  the  Designer  might  inquire  about  a  store  or  restaurant's  target  
customer   to   create   an   appropriate   space.   A[er   collecCng   required  
informaCon,  the  Designer  formulates  a  design  plan  and  esCmates  costs.  
 
Programming  
   
 
Programming  means  the  scope  of  work  which  includes,  but  is  
not  limited  to:  
 
•  ConducCng  research  
•  IdenCfying  and  analyzing  the  needs  and  goals  of  the  client  
and/or  occupant(s)  of  the  space  
•  EvaluaCng  exisCng  documentaCon  and  condiCons  
•  Assessing  project  resources  and  limitaCons  
•  IdenCfying  life,  safety  and  code  requirements  
•  Developing  project  schedules  and  budgets  
 
It   is   essenCal   to   do   a   thorough   Programming   before  
proceeding  with  Conceptual  Design.  
 
  
 
A  Six-­‐Step  Process  
 
 
Research  the  Project  Type  
 
The  designer  should  become  familiar  with  some  of  the  following  relevant  
informaCon:    
   
•  The  types  of  spaces  frequently  included  in  the  building  
•  The   space   criteria   (number   of   square   feet   per   person   or   unit)   for  
those  spaces,  
•  Typical  relaConships  of  spaces  for  these  funcCons,  
•  Typical  site  requirements  for  the  project  type,  
•  Regional   issues   that   might   alter   the   accuracy   of   the   data   above   in   the  
case  of  this  project,  and  
•  Technical,   mechanical,   electrical,   security,   or   other   issues   unique   to  
the  project  type.  

This   informaCon   can   be   obtained   from   literature   on   the   building   type,  

analysis   of   plans   of   exisCng   projects,   expert   consultants   familiar   with   the  
building  type,  and/or  cost  esCmaCng  services.  
Establish  Goals  and  Objec:ves  
   
Each  of  the  following  categories  of  goals     should  be  addressed:  
 
Organiza:onal   Goals:   What   are   the   goals   of   the   owners?   Where   do   they   see  
their   organizaCon   headed?   How   does   this   interior   project   fit   into   this   broad  
picture?  
 
Form  and  Image  Goals:  What  should  be  the  aestheCc  and  psychological  impact  
of   the   design?   How   should   it   relate   to   the   surroundings?   Should   its   image   be  
similar   to   or   disCnct   from   its   neighbors?   Are   there   historic,   cultural,   and/or  
context  implicaCons?  
 
Func:on   Goals:   What   major   funcCons   will   take   place   in   the   building?   How  
many   people   are   to   be   accommodated?   How   might   the   building   design  
enhance  or  impact  occupant  interacCons?  
Establish  Goals  and  Objec:ves  
   
 
Economic   Goals:   What   is   the   total   project   budget?   What   level   of   quality   is  
desired  (o[en  stated  in  relaCon  to  other  exisCng  projects)?  What  is  the  aatude  
toward  conservaCon  of  resources  and  sustainability  (energy,  water,  etc.)?  
 
Time   Goals:   When   is   the   project   to   be   occupied?   What   types   of   changes   are  
expected  over  the  next  5,  10,  15,  and  20  years?  
 
Management   Goals:   These   goals   are   not   so   much   an   issue   of   the   nature   of   the  
project   as   they   are   the   circumstances   of   the   owner,   clients,   designer,   or  
architect.   For   example,   perhaps   the   schemaCc   design   must   be   completed   in  
Cme  for  council  applicaCon  deadline.  
Gather  Relevant  Informa:on  
   
  of   relevant   informaCon   can   be  
Based   upon   the   goals,   the   categories  
determined  and  researched.  Typical  categories  include:  
 
•  Facility   users,   acCviCes,   and   schedules:   Who   is   doing   what,   how   many  
people  are  doing  each  acCvity,  and  when  are  they  doing  it?  

•  What  equipment  is  necessary  for  acCviCes  to  funcCon  properly?  What  is  
the  size  of  the  equipment?  

•  What  aspects  of  the  project  need  to  be  projected  into  the  future?  What  is  
the  history  of  growth  of  each  aspect  that  requires  projecCon?  
Gather  Relevant  Informa:on  
   
   
•  What   are   the   space   criteria   (square   feet   per   person   or   unit)   for   the  
funcCons  to  take  place?  

•  What  other  design  criteria  may  affect  architectural  programming:  access  

to   daylight,   acousCcs,   accessibility,   campus/area   design   guidelines,  
historic  preservaCon,  etc.?  

•  Are   there   standards   for   minimum   area   for   various   funcCons?   What   are  
these  standards?  

•  What  are  the  energy  usage  and  requirements?  

•  What  code  informaCon  may  affect  programming  decisions?  

Gather  Relevant  Informa:on  
 
 
•  Site  analysis:  the  site  is  always  a  major  aspect  of  the  design  problem  and  
  program.   Site   analysis   components  
therefore   should   be   included   in   the  
that  o[en  affect  design  include:  
 
•  Legal  descripCon  
•  Zoning,  design  guidelines,  and  deed  restricCons  and  requirements  
•  Traffic  (bus,  automobile,  and  pedestrian)  consideraCons  
•  UClity  availability  (a  potenCally  high  cost  item)  
•  Topography  
•  Views  
•  Built  features  
•  Climate  (if  not  familiar  to  the  designer)  
•  VegetaCon  and  wildlife  
 
Gather  Relevant  Informa:on  
   
•  Client's  exisCng  facility  as  a  resource    
 
•  If   the   client   is   already   parCcipaCng   in   the   acCviCes   to   be   housed   in  
the   new   facility,   it   may   be   possible   to   make   use   of   informaCon   at  
hand.   Determine   if   the   exisCng   facility   is   saCsfactory   or   obsolete   as   a  
resource.  
 
•  If  a  floor  plan  exists,  do  a  square  foot  take-­‐off  of  the  areas  for  various  
funcCons.   Determine   the   building   efficiency   (the   raCo   of   exisCng   net-­‐
to-­‐gross   area).   This   raCo   is   useful   in   establishing   the   building  
efficiency  target  for  the  new  facility.  
Iden:fy  Strategies    
   
ProgrammaCc   strategies   suggest   a   way   to   accomplish   the   goals   given  
what  one  now  knows  about  the  opportuniCes  and  constraints.  A  familiar  
example   of   a   programmaCc   strategy   is   the   relaConship   or   "bubble"  
diagram.   These   diagrams   indicate   what   funcCons   should   be   near   each  
other   in   order   for   the   project   to   funcCon   smoothly.   RelaConship  
diagrams  can  also  indicate  the  desired  circulaCon  connecCons  between  
spaces,  what  spaces  require  security  or  audio  privacy,  or  other  aspects  
of  special  relaConships.  
 
Iden:fy  Strategies  
 
  for  many  different  types  of  projects.  
Other   types   of   strategies   recur   in   programs  
Some  examples  of  common  categories  o  f  programmaCc  strategies  include:  
 
•  Centraliza:on  and  decentraliza:on:  What  funcCon  components  are  grouped  
together  and  which  are  segregated?  For  example,  in  some  offices  the  copying  
funcCon   is   centralized,   while   in   others   there   are   copiers   for   each  
department.  
 
•  Flexibility:   What   types   of   changes   are   expected   for   various   funcCons?   Do  
faciliCes   need   to   change   over   a   period   of   a   few   hours?   A   few   days?   A  
summer  recess?  Or  is  an  addiCon  what  is  really  needed?  
 
•  Flow:  What  goods,  services,  and  people  move  through  the  project?  What  is  
needed  at  each  step  of  the  way  to  accommodate  that  flow?  
Determine  Quan:ta:ve  Requirements  
   
In  this  step,  one  must  reconcile  the  a   vailable  budget  with  the  amount  of  
improvements  desired  within  the  project  Cme  frame.    
Summarize  the  Program  
   
 
Finally,  once  all  of  the  preceding  steps  are  executed,  summary  statements  can  
be  wriZen  defining  "in  a  nut  shell"  the  results  of  the  programming  effort.  All  of  
the   perCnent   informaCon   included   above   can   be   documented   for   the   client.  
The  decision-­‐makers  should  sign-­‐off  on  the  scope  of  work  as  described  in  the  
program.  
 
Once   a   program   is   completed   and   approved   by   the   client,   the   informaCon  
must   be   integrated   into   the   design   process.   Some   clients   want   the  
programmer  to  stay  involved  a[er  the  programming  phase  to  insure  that  the  
requirements  defined  in  the  program  are  realised  in  the  design  work.