Prepare for your first meeting with a designer
Your first meeting turns a broad idea into a clear set of questions. A few useful documents and priorities help a design team understand the project and agree the next step.
Bring what you know about the space
Share the location, intended use and current stage, along with available drawings and recent photographs. Say whether dimensions have been measured or are approximate. Photographs do not replace a site assessment or measured survey where required.
Explain use before appearance
Describe the people and activities the space must accommodate. Rank the problems you want to solve, such as storage, privacy, service circulation or seating arrangements.
Explain your reference images
Choose a small selection and identify what you like: light, materials, colour or layout. A reference starts a discussion; it does not establish an execution price or a commitment to copy another design.
Discuss scope, budget and timing
State your preliminary budget and what it should include. Ask about design deliverables, review stages, execution and supervision. Agree costs and deadlines only after the project scope and requirements are understood.
Agree the next step
Record missing information, who will provide it and how the proposal will be prepared. A written meeting summary gives everyone a shared starting point.