ABSTRACT
Stage 2 is the most crucial stage of any project: the Concept Design is prepared, presented and signed off by the client. This chapter focuses on the importance and aims of Stages 0 and 1 and how their efficient use can facilitate a more effective and productive Stage 2. Significant changes proposed at Stage 3 might require the work of all of the design team to be altered and further reviews and coordination exercises to be undertaken, making these changes costly and difficult to implement. The rationale behind having two stages prior to the commencement of the Concept Design stage is straightforward: Stage 0 considers strategic issues and Stage 1 adds ‘flesh’ to these strategic bones. Beyond Stage 2, the amount of information produced increases exponentially. The more information that is produced, the greater the amount of information that has to be amended in the event of a change.
