Design Management Services for Construction Projects

What’s included

Our design management service puts a named design manager in charge of the design process on behalf of the client or contractor, working across architects, engineers and specialist designers.

• Design programme. A stage-by-stage design programme with information release dates, tracked and updated as the design develops.
• Design responsibility matrix. Clear ownership of every element across consultants, the contractor and specialist subcontractors.
• Design coordination meetings. Agenda-led meetings that resolve issues, with actions tracked to close-out.
• Contractor Design Portion (CDP) review. Reviewing CDP submissions against the employer’s requirements and the agreed design intent.
• Design freeze. Agreeing freeze points with you and controlling any change after them.
• Scope creep control. A design change register, with cost and programme impact assessed before changes are instructed.
• Late information management. Information required schedules and early warning when consultant information is at risk of arriving late.
• Design interface management. Identifying and tracking the interfaces between disciplines and packages so nothing falls between the gaps.

How we work

1. Free 30-minute consultation. We talk through your project, your design team and where the gaps are. No obligation.
2. A plan or a tailored proposal. Choose a monthly plan sized to your workload, or request a bespoke fee proposal — we reply within 24–48 hours.
3. Onboarding within 5 working days. Your design manager gets access to your CDE, design programme and meetings, and agrees reporting with you.
4. Monthly delivery with reporting. The agreed days are delivered each month with clear design progress reporting. Up to 20% of unused days roll over.

Need project, BIM or document control support alongside design management? See our full range of virtual project management services.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between project management and design management?

Project management controls the whole project — programme, cost, risk and stakeholders. Design management focuses on the design process itself: coordinating consultants, tracking the design programme, managing interfaces and controlling design change so information is complete and on time.

How much do your design management services cost?

It depends on the number of days and the mix of roles you need. Request our plans and pricing and we’ll email you the full rate card, or ask for a tailored fee proposal.

Do you review Contractor Design Portions?

Yes. We review CDP submissions against the employer’s requirements and the agreed design intent, track comments and status, and make sure responsibility for each element is clear in the design responsibility matrix.

When should a design freeze be called?

A design freeze should be agreed at key stage gates, such as before tender and before construction information is issued. We agree the freeze points with you and put a change process in place so any later change is assessed for cost and programme impact first.

Can you manage our design team if we’re not the architect?

Yes. We act as an independent design manager for the client or contractor, coordinating architects, engineers and specialists, chairing design meetings and keeping the design programme on track.