Revisions are a normal part of design, and the way you give feedback decides how fast the design moves. A clear agreement from the start helps avoid disagreements.
How many revisions are included, and how they are charged, differs between offices. Check this in your own contract.
1. Agree the rules first
Ask in the proposal how many rounds of revisions are included at each stage and how extra rounds are charged. Write it down so both sides have the same expectation.
A small change and a change of direction are different things, and the agreement should say so.
2. Give feedback in one list
Collect comments from everyone in the family before you send them. A single, ordered list is faster to act on than many messages.
If two people disagree, decide among yourselves first.
3. Be specific
Say what you do not like and why, not only what you want instead. ‘The kitchen feels dark’ tells a designer more than ‘make the window bigger’.
Include pictures or references if they help, and say which part of them you like.
4. Know when to stop
Each round should move closer to a final design. If feedback starts going in circles, ask for a pause to review the original brief together.
Late changes, after construction drawings begin, cost more than changes in the sketch stage.
**Earlier is cheaper**: The sooner a change is raised, the cheaper it is.
5. Keep a record
Keep dated versions of each design and a short note of what changed and why. It helps when someone asks later why a decision was made.
Ask for confirmation of the final approved version in writing.
6. Keep the brief in view
Return to the original brief when you feel unsure. It reminds both sides of what the design is meant to achieve.
Revisions are not a sign of failure. They are how a design becomes yours, and good designs often go through several rounds.
