Selecting a design Firm
The Five Steps to selecting the right design practice
The following Five Steps are GDBA guidelines designed to assist the design buyer when commissioning design. They are based on the belief that the most effective results are achieved by teamwork and mutual understanding.
Step 1 - Planning
Begin by appointing a dedicated individual who will have the resources to manage the project. In discussion with them, and any other parties, prepare a detailed brief. The brief should include all relevant market information, research data and historical background together with details of any special requirements, budget and timescale.
Step 2 - Shortlisting
Consult all appropriate directories, including the GDBA Book, and select as many consultancies whose stated capabilities you believe are appropriate to your project. Arrange to visit each practice. A clear impression of the company’s skills and standards will be gained by visiting their premises. Talk with each consultancy to discuss the broad nature of your project with them and discover whether they have the appropriate experience and talents for the project.
Step 3 - Reviewing
After the visits, discuss your impressions with colleagues and review the project brief to see whether any elements, including the objectives, budget or timescale, have changed.
Step 4 - Briefing
Having refined your brief you should send your project invitation to as many practices as you believe appropriate to the needs of your project asking each to submit:
- A summary of their relevant credentials.
- A methodology statement outlining how they propose to approach the project.
- A schedule of work stages and details of the professional fees and other third party costs required for carrying out the project.
- Terms and conditions for their appointment.
The Consultancies will not expect to receive payment for this submission.
In order to make a direct comparison between the consultancies, it is important that you provide each consultancy with precisely the same briefing. The manner in which the practice proceeds from that point on, will provide you with a further insight into their abilities and performance.
If the project is sufficiently important you may wish to have a full-scale briefing meeting with each of the practices rather than simply sending the brief to them. You may also wish to have the consultancies carry out some preliminary creative work on the project to help your evaluation process. In this event you should be prepared to pay a fixed fee to each consultancy to cover their time, costs and expenses.
Step 5 - Selecting
On the assumption that one of the shortlisted consultancies provides you with a comprehensively competent and thoroughly professional presentation, which meets all your initial project objectives and goals, then you should select and appoint, preferably in writing, the practice. Equally you should notify the unsuccessful consultancies as soon as possible.
Now all that's left to do is to succeed, remembering that the most effective results are achieved by teamwork and mutual understanding.