Design Concept Example in SketchUp + Layout
In this post I’m sharing an example design concept I created for a client a few years ago in SketchUp and Layout.
A few weeks ago I shared a full design documentation set in SketchUp and Layout (which you can see here) and it’s currently one of the top performing posts on my blog, so I figure you guys may like to see more example documents!
The Project in SketchUp
The design concept is normally the first (or very early) set of documentation I would deliver to a client.
With the project below I had done a space planning phase of the project first - to get my clients to agree on the actual layout/floor plan they would like (before I spend time building all this out in 3D).
The next step before any documentation can be created is to design the house or project inside SketchUp itself.
And below is a snapshot of how the SketchUp file looked for the project I’m sharing in the design concept below.
With this particular project I built the project out in quite a bit of detail in 3D, which I don’t always do for design concept phase, as this is very time consuming.
It really depends how far we have got with decision making by this stage as to whether I just build out joinery/cabinetry in block (simple) form for the moment or whether I do a more detailed version of the cabinetry at this stage. Because I had decisive clients with this project I went ahead and did quite a bit of the actual cabinetry design, as you will see below and in the design concept itself.
I just wanted to point out that I don’t always do it this way. The main thing is to make sure you are getting paid for the time it takes to go to this much detail at concept phase. Often this is the level of detail I would normally do as part of the documentation phase of my projects - just to be clear :)
I share more about my full design process with interior clients in this blog post if you’re interested.
Also - if you’re keen how to learn how to use SketchUp I teach this step of the process in my SketchUp for Interior Design Beginners Course and by the end you’ll be able to create something that looks a bit like the image below…
You can find out more about my SketchUp Beginners Course here if you’re interested.
Creating the Design Concept in Layout
Once the SketchUp file is ready I then prepare the design concept.
This is all created inside Layout, which is complimentary software that comes with SketchUp Pro.
You can see other examples of the types of documents I create inside SketchUp and Layout - in this blog post.
But what I’m sharing in the images below is a design concept created for the clients to help them visualise how the project will look when it’s completed.
To deliver the concept I would either set up a face to face or zoom meeting to go over the concept, present real life samples of some of the materials selected for the project (e.g. tiles, flooring, veneers etc.) and discuss the concept in detail.
There is no right or way to put together a design concept. The most important thing is that it conveys the information about your design ideas so the client can start to make decisions.
All documentation you create for design clients is essential for the purposes of communication - I share more thoughts about the purpose of design documentation - in this blog post here.
And if you would like to learn how to do this yourself I teach how to use Layout in my intermediate SketchUp Course.
You can find out more about my SketchUp Intermediate Course here.
[Note all client information has been removed from the document to protect their privacy]
I hope it’s helpful to have a look through this design concept and see how I presented it for this particular project!
Learn SketchUp with our fun online course for beginners…
If you want improve your work with design clients or you are about to start renovating or remodeling then you will love SketchUp.
With this software you can mock up an entire home in 2D (floor plans, joinery/millwork elevations, lighting and electrical plans and more) and 3D (renderings and perspective drawings) so you can picture exactly what it will look like when it is finished plus prepare your technical drawings for use with your clients, trades and contractors.
Learning SketchUp will save you time, money, mistakes and so much more! It is a well known piece of software in the interior design and architecture industries and will give you a solid technical drawing skill that will immediately upgrade the professionalism of the work you are doing.
I teach an online course for beginners that is focused specifically on using SketchUp for interior design purposes. We have had more than 10,000 students come through the course with so many fantastic projects designed and built!
We have all sorts of students in the course including designers and architects, cabinet makers, home renovators/remodelers, kitchen and bathroom designers, event planners, landscape designers and design enthusiasts.
To find out more about the courses we have on offer click the link below. And reach out if you have any questions I can help with :)
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
