Services
What is Design Management?
Whether representing builders, clients (developers/owners), or operators, Design Management is an essential discipline within property development and construction. It expertly aligns design outcomes with the strategic objectives of both the client and the future operator of a project. It guarantees that all aspects of a development—architectural, structural, and engineering—meet aesthetic and functional requirements and ensure feasibility, cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, ease of maintenance, and a superior user experience.
At its core, Design Management involves active stakeholder engagement, rigorous feasibility analysis, and continuous management of costs, risks, and schedules through seamless coordination between in-house design teams and external consultants. This integrated approach optimises decision-making throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial concept to final delivery. It effectively safeguards time, budget, and risk for developers, JV capital partners, and operator clients.
By embedding strong design and development management within your internal teams, you will gain greater control over design quality, better budget adherence, and reliable project timelines. This strategic framework promotes innovative solutions balanced with pragmatic operational considerations, ensuring that developments are not only visually impressive but also operationally viable.
Design Management Process
Design Management is the essential link between vision, value, and construction delivery, ensuring that what is conceived can be built, operated efficiently, and sold or operated.
It provides owners with the confidence that their development remains commercially viable and that the construction delivery is practical and executable.
While project management concentrates on executing the plan and closing out the job, and development management focuses on deal structuring, planning, and feasibility, design management spans the entire development journey.
Design Management ensures at every stage that the design solution aligns with financial goals and operational requirements, safeguarding the project's success from concept through completion.
Why Owners & Developers need it
1. Prevent Redesign Loops
By establishing a defendable client brief and a disciplined decision matrix early in the project. You will ensure clarity and alignment among stakeholders and consultants by eliminating costly and time-consuming redesign cycles that compromise timelines and budgets.
2. Safeguard Returns from Construction
From new builds to adaptive reuse of existing buildings, I focus on maximising asset value through strategic delivery oversight. By integrating in-house design and development leadership, you will ensure that each stage safeguards investment returns and enhances long-term performance.
3. Improve Cost Certainty and Value
By right-sizing project components, including brand positioning, product mix, and amenity scale, I can tailor development outputs precisely to target buyer or user needs. This expertise reduces overspending and optimises value creation, providing robust cost certainty.
4. De-risk Compliance and Constructability
With years of experience in delivering projects through construction, I can help assess and manage scope, cost, and programme risks through proactive compliance and constructability reviews. This de-risking process preserves project integrity, prevents delays, and secures programme adherence from early design through to completion.
Clients who engage my expertise benefit from a grounded, strategic approach that blends architectural rigour with practical project delivery, ensuring outcomes that are not only visionary but also reliably delivered.
Good design management turns design intent into commercial performance.
Key Highlights
01 — The Value
Design management protects the owner’s intent and commercial outcomes from concept to completion. It ensures design ambition aligns with yield, budget, and operational performance — not just aesthetic intent.
02 — The Role
Where development management defines the opportunity and project management executes the build, design management connects both. It governs feasibility, design, cost, and constructability through every decision.
03 — The Result
Better briefing. Fewer redesigns. Faster approvals. Lower risk. Higher quality outcomes that protect time, cost, and long-term asset value.
Where Design Management adds value
Development management leads the early vision. Project management delivers the build. Design management links them end-to-end, keeping creativity commercial and delivery executable.
Let’s Connect
I am available for full-time roles or advisory consulting, for property development, in hotels, hospitality, and mixed-use residential precincts.
If you need expert support for a projects, please contact me at:
contact@shannoncloete.com
References available upon request.