predesign

Predesign is the early phase of a project that occurs before formal design work begins. It encompasses the planning, research, and scoping activities intended to define a project’s goals, constraints, and viability, and to prepare the ground for subsequent design phases. The term is used across disciplines such as architecture, urban planning, product design, and engineering, though its exact scope can vary by field.

Typical predesign activities include problem definition, goal setting, and stakeholder analysis to clarify needs and priorities. It also covers site and context analysis, programming of functional requirements, and feasibility studies that examine economic, environmental, technical, and regulatory constraints. Risk assessment, budgeting, scheduling, and procurement planning are commonly considered part of predesign, as are regulatory compliance, permitting requirements, and sustainability targets. Gathering user or client input through research, interviews, or market analysis helps anchor design decisions in real needs.

Outputs of predesign typically include a design brief or program document, a feasibility or viability report, site analysis findings, initial cost estimates, and a project schedule. These artifacts inform the scope and criteria for the design phase and help align stakeholders.

In practice, predesign is sometimes called front-end planning or pre-design. It serves to reduce risk, improve decision quality, and minimize costly changes later in the design process by establishing clear objectives, constraints, and success metrics.