If you’ve never worked with a building designer before, the process can feel unclear. What happens at each stage? How long does it take? What decisions will you need to make? This guide walks you through the typical building design process on the Gold Coast from first phone call to plans in hand.
The process starts with a phone call or email to discuss your project at a high level. The designer wants to understand what you’re looking to achieve — new home, renovation, extension — your approximate budget, your timeline, and your property location.
If the project is a good fit, you’ll book a consultation. On the Gold Coast, most designers charge a consultation fee ranging from $200-$500. This fee typically covers a site visit and an in-depth discussion about your project. See our guide on building designer costs for more detail on fees.
Before the consultation, gather:
A thorough consultation should cover:
A great designer will ask as many questions as they answer. They’re trying to understand you, your lifestyle, and your priorities — not just your room count.
This is the creative stage where your project starts taking shape on paper (or screen). Based on your brief and the site analysis, the designer produces initial concept plans — typically floor plans and basic elevations showing the overall layout, room sizes, and spatial relationships.
Most designers present 1-2 concept options for you to review. These aren’t detailed construction drawings — they’re design explorations that test different approaches to your brief.
This is where you provide feedback:
Expect 2-3 rounds of revisions at this stage. Good designers welcome feedback — it’s how the design gets refined. Don’t feel bad about asking for changes. This is far cheaper to change on paper than during construction.
Concept design typically takes 3-4 weeks, including revision rounds. The biggest variable is how quickly you provide feedback. Designers can’t progress until you’ve reviewed and approved the concept direction.
Once you’ve approved the concept, the designer develops it into a more detailed design. This is where dimensions are locked in, construction methods are considered, and the design is tested against council requirements.
Design development typically takes 2-3 weeks. Again, turnaround of your feedback is the main variable.
This is the technical stage where the design is converted into drawings and specifications detailed enough for a builder to construct and a certifier to approve. Your designer coordinates with engineers and other consultants during this phase. The quality of this documentation directly affects your construction costs — learn more about why construction experience in your designer matters.
Your designer typically coordinates:
Full documentation takes 3-5 weeks for a standard residential project. Complex projects may take longer. Engineering turnaround is often the bottleneck.
Your designer compiles all drawings, engineering, and reports into a documentation package and lodges it with a private certifier for Building Approval. If a Development Approval is also required, this is lodged with Gold Coast City Council. See our detailed guide to the Gold Coast council approval process.
Building Approval typically takes 3-6 weeks from lodgement. Development Approval adds another 6-12 weeks.
With approved plans in hand, you can now approach builders for quotes. Your designer’s documentation quality directly affects how accurately builders can price the work.
This varies by designer. Some offer:
Others hand over the plans and their involvement ends. Clarify this upfront so you know what support you’ll have during the build.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Consultation and brief | 1-2 weeks |
| Concept design | 3-4 weeks |
| Design development | 2-3 weeks |
| Construction documentation | 3-5 weeks |
| Council approval | 3-6 weeks |
| Total (design to approval) | 12-20 weeks |
The total from first meeting to approved plans is typically 3-5 months for a standard residential project. Complex projects or those requiring Development Approval take longer.
The single most important thing you can do. A designer who knows your budget designs to it. A designer who doesn’t know your budget designs what they think looks good — and it often costs more than you can afford.
Every week of delay in your feedback adds a week to your timeline. Designers work on multiple projects simultaneously, and delays push you back in the queue.
Good design takes time. The concept stage might feel slow, but getting the concept right saves enormous amounts of money and stress later. A week spent refining the concept is worth months of avoiding construction changes.
Designers would rather hear “I don’t like this” early than discover it after documentation is complete. Honest feedback is not rude — it’s essential.
If you’re building with a partner, agree on one person to manage communication with the designer. Conflicting feedback from two people slows the process and confuses the outcome.
A lot — and that’s a good thing. You’ll be actively involved in reviewing concepts, making material decisions, and providing feedback at every stage. A good designer guides you through these decisions rather than making them for you.
That’s what the concept stage is for. Your designer will revise the concept based on your feedback. Most projects go through 2-3 concept revisions before everyone is happy. If you and your designer fundamentally disagree on direction, discuss it openly — the design should reflect your vision, not theirs.
Yes, but changes after approval may require a new approval application and additional fees. Minor changes can sometimes be handled as site instructions during construction, but significant changes need to go back through the approval process.
In most cases, yes. Your building designer’s plans become your property once you’ve paid for them in full. You can take them to any builder you choose. However, some designers retain copyright — check your agreement.
Contact your designer. Even if their formal involvement has ended, most designers will help resolve discrepancies between the plans and what’s being built. If the builder is doing something different from the approved plans, your designer can clarify the intent and help find a solution.
Working with a building designer is a collaborative process that typically takes 3-5 months from first meeting to approved plans. The key to a great result is choosing a designer who listens, being clear about your budget, providing timely feedback, and trusting the process.
The investment in good design pays for itself many times over through a smoother approval process, more accurate builder quotes, and fewer costly changes during construction.
At Design Science, we guide you through every stage of the design process — from initial consultation through to approved plans and builder selection. Our $280 consultation is the first step. Book now to discuss your project.
David Steadman
Licensed Builder & Building Designer
David Steadman is the founder of Design Science, a Gold Coast building design practice backed by over 30 years of hands-on construction experience. One of few Australians holding both a QBCC Builder's Licence and Building Designer licence, David brings a rare combination of design thinking and practical building knowledge to every project.
