Is a Strong Design Narrative Important?
A design narrative is an integral component to a great design proposal. This is your design solution to the issue at large.
Let's talk through some great tips for a great design narrative & how you can stand out for your next studio project!
The short answer, YES!
A design narrative is an integral component to a great design proposal. It's your reason & argument that will be up against others for a design proposal. This is your design solution to the issue at large. When curating your design narrative, ask yourself key questions to get yourself inspired:
What will make your design stand out?
What will differ you from the competition?
What will create a strong & compelling design proposal?
Studio projects typically last the duration of the semester. We come up with design narratives that encompass all aspects of the project into one. It can be a lot of pressure to come up with a design narrative that can accomplish this.
I’ve uncovered a 3 step methodology that has given me successful design narratives every time. It follows this equation:
Three W’s + Site Analysis + Design Intent
Let's walk through some great tips for a great design narrative & how you can stand out for your next studio project!
The Three W's
Your “Why”
Why this design for this site/building? Why is this design important?
For your “why”, think of why it is you are creating this specific design. Ask yourself what is driving you to make design decisions & why those are important for your design. Think of this as your reason for designing with purpose.
Are you designing a building with curves because you like curves? Or are you designing with curves because the motion of the building is reflecting the shape of the surrounding mountains and it provokes the engagement of people with the building?
Think deep, find reasoning, & be poetic!
Your “What”
What is your design going to accomplish?
Think of the “what” as the physical parameters constricting you within your project. Site analysis, which can entail site context, climate, and zoning, is a fundamental parameter defining what you’re able to do within your project site.
Envision what this design will provide for the community & its inhabitants. This element is crucial in defining the purpose of your design.
Your “Who”
Who is this design going to benefit?
Always remember to think of who this design is for because this plays a large role in a lot of design factors. Do your research on demographics that will support your design & its intent.
Think of questions like: What age of people will be able to use this building? Is this design accessible to everyone? Make your inhabitants clear who the design is for whether it be a children’s museum, a senior center, etc.
Site Analysis
Site Analysis is an amazing way to discover important aspects of your site, the climate, the context, & the limitations of your project scope. When doing site analysis there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of ways to analyze, but these are some of the ones I used on every project to start me off strong. The practice of site analysis is important because it will not only help drive your design narrative, but will also be critical graphic components of your presentation.
Circulation (Vehicular & Pedestrian)
Vehicular & Pedestrian circulation studies may be imperative to a design project. Think of accessibility, how people approach the site, & how people begin to engage with your design at the micro & macro level.
Context
Research the context around your site. Find what exists around your project site, the construction materials in the area, the proximity to water, how sewege & water are regulated, important buildings/monuments around the site, & any other occupancy types that may surround your project site.
Zoning
Critical to every project are the required zoning laws & regulations. These laws & regulations govern the occupancy types, setback requirements, easements, & height limitations.
Sound
This is a great way to uncover where there are noisy areas that could use vegetation as a sound barrier. It’s also great in uncovering if there are areas around the site that are more quiet where you might place private spaces.
Climate
Climate is imperative in understanding parts of the year that are uncomfortable & comfortable. It’s also a strong teller of how to organize the interior spaces in relation to the exterior of your building to design for thermal comfort.
Wind
I have personally always used wind as a driver for design because it’s crucial in defining solid & void / mass & volume. It’s critical in defining permeable areas & allowing for natural ventilation practices.
Sun Path / Light
Sun Path & Light are critical components to a design. As architects & designers it’s our job to be mindful of sun patterns & the allowance of light within interior spaces to provide maximum thermal comfort. It’s important to know where to place your glass & solid materials.
Existing Vegetation
Vegetation is important in understanding where green spaces exist or lack. It will also help in defining whether you have a connection to the outdoors or provide additional vegetation in your design.
Design Intent
Your design intent should encompass your "Why, What, & Who".
This is when you begin to talk through your design and make sure you have thought about everything thoroughly.
Have you thought about accessibility & how people enter/access the site?
Have you thought about materiality?
Have you thought about the sense of "place" that exists within your design?
Coming up with a design proposal/narrative can be hard when starting a project. Start at the micro level & then work your way out to the macro level. This is a workflow that worked for me in school:
Micro: Site, immediate context, climate & conditions effecting site
Macro: City/area context, demographics, important things to you as a designer (sustainability, communal engagement, etc.)
Once you tie down your initial design narrative you can begin to get inspired on your design. Create a Pinterest board compiling ideas that inspire you.
Get inspired by shapes, material, movement, connection to the outdoors, technical details, & color palettes.
Revisit your design narrative time & time again. Let it guide you from concept to fruition!
