Process

Our design process - Clear steps, no surprises

Every project is different, but we follow a tried-and-true process that helps take the stress out of building. From the first chat to council approval and beyond, we guide you through each step and keep things moving.

Initial Chat.

We start with a conversation — no obligation, just a chance to talk through your ideas, goals, budget and site. It helps us understand what you’re after and whether we’re the right fit for your project.

Concept Design.

We sketch up the big ideas — form, layout, materials and how everything fits the site. This is where we start shaping the feel of the project and testing what’s possible.

Developed Design & Pricing Plans.

Once the concept is approved, we prepare a concise and coordinated set of pricing plans — roughly 50% of the full documentation. These drawings are detailed enough for builders to provide accurate costings, but without the final layers of detail that would come later in the consent set.

At this stage, the project pauses while you gather pricing. This gives you a chance to review budgets and make any design tweaks early, rather than editing a full set of detailed plans later. Once the numbers are back, we move forward with clarity and confidence.

Documentation.

We complete the full technical drawings and specifications required for building consent and construction. This is where the detail comes in — claddings, fixings, flashings and everything in between.

Council & Consultants.

We’ll manage the consent submission and coordinate with consultants like engineers, surveyors and planners if needed. Our aim is to keep things moving with minimal hassle.

Support During the Build (optional)

Once the build kicks off, things get real — and exciting. This is when all the planning starts taking shape on site.

While it’s not essential, many clients choose to keep us involved during this stage. We can help answer questions from the builder, provide additional detail when needed and help ensure the design is delivered as intended. Staying involved gives an extra layer of support and helps maintain the quality and vision right through to the finish line.

Brief & scoping.

At Ink Architecture we have a unique briefing process where we ensure we extract all the specifications and requirements from our clients. This gives us a clear framework so that we can best understand your wants, needs and desires, and how we can use our creativity to bring this all to life.

In the briefing process, budget is a very important part of building or renovating your home. That’s why we design a very detailed scope to make sure you get the most value from your budget, if there is one.

Build. Design. Develop.

Now the fun stuff really begins!

Designing and building a home should be a fun, exciting and interactive process. Tell us all about your dream home and let’s get the creativity flowing. We aim to work closely with you to create a smart, functional and visually appealing home.

At Ink, we listen, prepare, then visualise your dream. We can then bring your project to life using the latest technology available. We can do anything from a basic conceptual 2D draft to start with, or if you prefer something more detailed we can offer a full 3D rendered walkthrough or virtual reality experience. These options really help our clients understand exactly what the home is going to look, and most importantly, feel like.

Our aim is to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for you and your family, while you go through the process of building, or renovating, your dream home

Documentation.

Ink Architecture prides itself on not only our design, but also our ability to produce highly-detailed and well-documented set of construction drawings. Ultimately it is this documentation that will ensure a smooth and informative process for all involved contractors and clients.

Pricing Plans: For your piece of mind, we can provide pricing plans as an interim step before the completion of the full set of construction drawings and any required Building Consent applications. These plans provide all the necessary details and documents for each individual sub-contractor to price accordingly, thus giving you a realistic idea of costs prior to applying for Consent.

Final Documentation: This is whole nine yards. Full, finished and finalised construction drawings that we submit to the relevant council on your behalf. We act as your agent during the consent process, so all questions and queries come directly to us to rectify.

Build & deliver.

We believe in making the experience from start to finish as enjoyable as possible.

At Ink, we see our projects right through to the end! We manage the whole design process from council consents, engineering, working drawings through to on-site liaising while the project is in action. We can also put you in touch with some of the fantastic builders we know and use.

We have completed many projects so feel free to touch base with us and we can show you our portfolio.