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Interior Design vocabulary · Clients & Projects

Concept design

Meaning in interior design, with examples

/ˈkɒnsept dɪˌzaɪn/nounCore term

In interior design, concept design means: The early design stage in which the designer presents the overall idea for a space, including the layout, mood, colours and key materials, before technical details are developed.

In Turkish: konsept tasarım, konsept proje, eskiz proje

How it is used

Usually includes a layout plan, mood boards and sometimes sketches or early renders. The client approves the concept design before the designer moves on to detailed drawings and the specification. In the UK's RIBA Plan of Work it is Stage 2.

Example sentences

  1. We'll present the concept design for the restaurant next week, with two layout options.

  2. The client changed the brief after the concept design was approved, so the fee went up.

Common collocations

  • concept design stage
  • present the concept design
  • approve the concept
  • concept design package
  • design briefA document or set of notes that records what the client wants from a project: how the space will be used, the style, the budget, the timeline and any must-haves.
  • mood boardA collage of images, colours, textures and objects that shows the feeling and style intended for a space before any detailed design is done.
  • renderA realistic computer image of a designed space, created from a 3D model to show the client how it will look with materials, light and furniture.
  • specificationA detailed written description of the products, materials, finishes and quantities to be used in a project, so that they can be priced, ordered and installed correctly.

More terms: Clients & Projects

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