Design development

Design development, often shortened to DD, follows schematic or concept design. In the US it is one of the standard AIA phases; other countries use different names and stage numbers, such as developed design in the UK RIBA Plan of Work, but the work is similar. The chosen scheme is refined and coordinated with structural, mechanical and other consultants. Dimensions become firm, materials are selected, the facade system is defined and enough is resolved that construction documents can follow.

How it shows up in a project

• Renders move from "is this the right idea" to specific questions: which brick, how deep the reveal, what the lobby ceiling looks like with the lighting in.
• Material decisions need side-by-side comparisons on the same view, so the only variable is the material.
• Cost becomes a real constraint, and images often help explain why one option is worth its price.
• Interior views become more common as rooms, finishes and furniture are resolved.
• Accuracy matters more than atmosphere. A render that flatters a detail the drawings cannot deliver causes problems later.

In Rendair

At this stage most work is editing rather than generating from scratch. Change Material tests finishes on a fixed view, Select and Modify changes one area of an image while leaving the rest alone, and Upscale & Enhance prepares the chosen option for a client report or print.