1. DESIGN AS A PROCESS OF CHOICE - A THOUGHT
(reprinted from October 27, 2000: Strategic Data News www.strategicdata.co.nz
by Philip Bradley, creative director at Blue River Creative www.blueriver.co.nz).

Have you ever considered "design" as a process of choice? Is the designer solely a person capable of making decisions, an effective prioritiser? Management Science may well say "Yes", however that would make choosing which of a dozen toothpaste available off the supermarket shelves an issue of design! Yet there is truth here. A designer must have the ability, perhaps even the courage, to stand out from those around and choose, recommend, promote and justify their blending of a vast array of available elements. Apparently there is a minimum of some 3000 or so decisions required to be made in designing a standard residential home. Will it be red or green, cedar or plaster, positioned here or there? Which fixtures look best, work best and fit within budget? The designer, even artist, is a decision-maker capable of presenting to his or her client a skilful compilation of justifiable choices. Wrong choices, or perhaps incorrect prioritisation can be ascribed to failure in design. Failure is ever ready to pounce when prioritising a pleasing look over cost, or placing bureaucratic compliance over sensible function (and vice versa). Cynically, your clients are paying you to make the right choices. They are relying on your experience to determine which things matter and which things don't. They expect that you know the aesthetic, functional, financial and legal consequences of combining element "X" with element "Y", then adding element "Z" with...over 3000 times! The permutations and unique way each individual pursues a creative solution makes the designers role potentially exciting and frequently daunting - perhaps lending a heroic component to those calling themselves "designers"!

That's my thought; how about yours... email: philip@blueriver.co.nz

Picture displays fill the walls at the offices of David Todd Ltd showing the best examples of houses and other buildings designed by the team and the public are welcome any time to view them. Brochures and Plan Books are available to take away, however the best way to view past examples of work and learn all about the comprehensive design service is by visiting the company Web Site at www.davidtodd.co.nz

Of course you can also still find them listed in the Yellow Pages.

In addition to custom designed homes, David Todd Ltd offers an extensive range of standardised house plans (for lower fees) marketed as Regency Homes. Made up of three different styles reflecting different tastes, the full catalogue of these plans is now available to view on the web site at www.regencyhomes.co.nz. Plans, perspective views and in many cases photos, are featured so that comparisons and choices can be made in the comfort of ones own home. Alterations to all Regency designs are possible but if none are suitable then a new plan can be designed to your requirements for a reasonable fee.

David says the plans are of great appeal because the same care and attention that goes into every custom designed home has gone into each of the Regency Designs and the many homes built in the Nelson region over the past 15 years is a testament to that. Many of these designs have been built all over the country due to the popularity of our web site where people are visiting each day. 

Commercial work has been a mainstay throughout the company’s history. Some of the commercial buildings David Todd Ltd (formally Baigent Todd Ltd) have designed are featured on this page. Others include: Café Affair, Powerstore on Trafalgar Street, Pak’N’ Save Richmond, MS Motors, Haven Motors, Bowater Honda, Bowater Toyota, Atec in Quarantine Road, the block of three shops next to the Star & Garter Hotel in Richmond and Education Board work such as schools, classrooms, and halls.

David Todd Ltd is involved with project management and contract administration for commercial clients and these days a greater number of residential clients are requesting such contract management as lifestyles become busier. David enjoys the wide variety of work undertaken and while very busy is always available to discuss new building projects of any kind.

DAVID TODD – ARCHITECTURAL  DESIGNERS
Article outlining the design process from the client's point of view.

You can pick up our pamphlet from the office in Hardy Street and view an interesting collection of photographs and pictures of houses, many and varied, all designed by David Todd Architectural Designers, Nelson.

Noticing that no two houses are the same you realise these designers must cater to their clients’ taste while using their skill to ensure a good result.

Discovering in the pamphlet that we have a Website at http://www.davidtodd.co.nz and, excited at the prospect of a new architecturally designed home, you hurry home to investigate.

On the Internet site, you find details of our service, many examples of our past works and examples of our computer generated perspective views each with a realistic backdrop of the subject’s actual site. Amazed at the realism of these pictures, you can’t wait to see you own dream home shown this way.

While exploring, you find the Regency Homes web page, actually a whole website of its own at www.regencyhomes.co.nz and dedicated to our catalogue of 50 mail order house plans. Each page includes a plan view with drawings and photographs. Impressed, you find that you can order a plan right on the website.

Deciding on a custom design for your sloping site you email a message to arrange a free consultation and start making sketches, collecting cuttings and noting your ideas.

In our interview room, you discuss materials, styles, design, costs and fees and you learn that we sift the priorities of your “wish list” and assess sunlight, views and access. You are relieved to hear that we take steps to make sure we design within your budget and you depart to consider the benefits of engaging David Todd Ltd. A written quote can be sent to you for your consideration.

After accepting our quote and compiling your design brief with the help of our designers, you leave us to get on with the job of designing your new home.

Your next visit is to discuss the initial concept sketches, - amendments are made and when you are satisfied, the design is taken to the 3D modelling stage. When this is complete you are presented with your 3D coloured renderings, complete with your chosen colour scheme and materials, together with clear computer drawn “sketch” plans.

After a couple of minor changes you give us approval to complete the working drawings and specifications and you appreciate the endless advice given about all aspects of the building process.

When your fully detailed documents are complete you apply for your Building Consent that has no trouble being approved, then call on your chosen builders for the pricing to begin.

Before you know it the builder has started work and you watch as your home takes shape just as those wonderful coloured pictures showed you, from David Todd Ltd Architectural Designers, 164 Hardy Street, Nelson Ph: 546 9018.

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