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How to Create a Winning Interior Design Presentation in Four Steps

Read on to learn the four can’t-miss steps of creating better interior design presentations, including tips on project presentation, design process integration, and visual presentation tools such as mood boards or a floor plan.

Introduction

The interior design presentation is a defining moment for any design project. Done well, the client presentation shows a homeowner in stunning and vivid detail that the designer gets them, their style, their budget and how they want their space transformed.

Designers who make an impactful and professional interior design presentation that perfectly aligns their vision with their client’s expectations are more likely to get a ‘yes’ more swiftly than other designers who have focused less on mastering the skill. We've broken down the art of client presentations into 4 main steps with real examples and tips to help you level up your presentation game.

Step 1: Preparing For Your Interior Design Presentation

Think of this step in the interior design process as if you were painting a room: The time spent cleaning, taping and spackling the space is rewarded with the clean lines and smooth strokes that make for a successful conclusion to the project. Similarly, it may take some time to adequately prepare for a design presentation, but this crucial foundational work sets the direction and basis for the entire project journey ahead.

Where to Start

Client meeting.

• The first step to learning about the needs of a client is to meet with them to gain a full understanding of their design preferences, lifestyle, budget, and the space challenges they are seeking to solve.
• Perhaps they have already filled out an initial questionnaire which you can review with them in more detail. Walk the rooms with them if possible, learn about their preferred colors and materials and their vision for the space. And, of course, ask plenty of clarifying questions along the way.

Define an Early Concept

• With the information from your initial meeting at hand, along with accurate measurements of the space and other important details such as a room’s square footage or other exact dimensions, now is the time to define an initial concept and design direction.
• The overarching concept you come up with will inform the next steps of the design process. At this early stage, you may even pull out a journal or notebook to sketch out a rough idea to use as the basis of a more detailed, digital version later. 

Design Development: Crafting a Narrative

• Along with a drawing, write a description of the concept and list the goals to help steer the plan according to your client’s vision and ensure you are on the same page.

Develop Your Design Ideas 

Once the rough idea has been determined, it’s time to start moving forward with translating the multiple concepts and design ideas into a project presentation. This is one of the areas that interior designers most enjoy because it gets the creative juices flowing! Many interior designers find inspiration in past projects, from their product library, and through other favorite design sources.

For a professional interior design presentation, choose design elements and different materials that best fit the initial design concept, like color scheme, floor materials, and other specific details such as fabric swatches. Add in the architectural details and supporting elements such as the furniture plan. Demonstrate the spatial relationships within the space and block out the furniture arrangements.

Step 2: Visual Ideas For Building a Professional Presentation

Now that you’ve worked through the early stages of the process, it’s time to learn how to make an interior design presentation as visually compelling as possible. Putting together an effective interior design presentation requires considering how you will organize your ideas to effectively convey them visually.

Most designers find that pulling all of these design concepts together into a visual presentation helps create a full design picture to aid in the project moving forward. Clients more readily understand what they can see; therefore it’s important to carefully select which interior design presentation tools you’ll use to clearly communicate the concepts and ideas. Here are some factors to consider when choosing client presentation tools.

Physical vs. Digital Design Boards

In today’s reality, not all meetings are held in person. Knowing in advance whether the presentation will be physical or virtual can inform the visualization tool choices. Digital design mockups, floor plans and renderings will save the day for making every detail come alive to bridge the internet divide. Using these digital tools is far less clumsy and awkward than trying to hold up a photo album or mockup board to the camera without bumping the mute button.

There’s more flexibility of choice when presenting face-to-face. More often than not, homeowners expect a design firm to make the best use of the sophisticated digital tools that provide life-like representations of what their future space will look like. Designers presenting in person have the advantage of going hybrid. They may, for example, complement these tech methods with fabric swatches and other design board materials that tap into senses beyond the visual.

Most Common Types of Tangible Client Presentation Boards

 physical design boards.

• Some designers rely on physical mood boards to convey their concepts. Many designers opt for  a simple foam board to tack on photographs and other images as well as physical samples and swatches to demonstrate textures and relate their vision.

 Material Samples

• Flipping through paint colors, caressing furniture fabrics and squaring up tiles can be a delightful part of the home renovation process. Most clients are grateful to be able to touch, feel and see these physical elements for better visualization. Using a sample board to incorporate tangible textures into your interior design presentation can give you an advantage in winning them over. 

Digital Presentation Tools

Interior designers are fortunate to have a host of easy-to-use, effective digital interior design presentation tools available to create presentations that wow. 

Mood Boards

• Room designs can be physically conveyed as we discussed above, but virtual mood boards are an impressive tool that inspire clients with visuals and life-like examples. Designers use software to present mood boards to their clients that are easily shared and simple to rearrange with a keystroke.
• Designers source material samples and the actual lamp, sofa, rug or table they envision for the space from their digital product library and preferred vendors. Learn more about  How to Make an Interior Design Mood Board to dive deeper.

Floor Plans

• A key part of any presentation is the floor plan, whether it is on paper or a screen. They help show architectural details such as the location of windows, doors, and walls, as well as fully furnish the space with furniture pieces, appliances and fixtures.
• Flat, 2D floor plans and blueprints can do the job, but 3D presentations are worth a thousand words, as they are more powerful for first impressions and help more clients see the entire project design in its best light. Designers who use software to make 3D floor plans incorporate all the details of a room into a compelling, life-like rendering that makes it easy for clients to envision the space. See How To Make Stunning Interior Design 3D Floor Plans for more details.

Photographs

• One of the best ways to help clients believe you can create the transformation they are seeking is through utilize the power of imagery. Presenting photorealistic 3D renderings of the proposed project, or example photos from past projects, will help illustrate your skill and boost their confidence in your interior design business’s work.
• Bonus tip: whenever  possible, choose images of the interior design projects most similar to the work they are seeking, whether in scope, budget bracket, type of room or design approach. Check out our piece on How to Make an Interior Design Portfolio to learn more about this complementary presentation skill.

Step 3: Presenting the Vision: How to Impress Design Clients

Now that you have worked through the concepts, gathered all your materials and picked the tools to best convey the design plan, it’s time to tie everything together for an impressive delivery. Consider these interior design presentation tips and strategies to fine tune your delivery.

Tailor Your Presentation

• The scope and content of your presentation will differ depending on your audience. When presenting for the first time to a new client, other designers find it valuable to spend extra time helping them get acquainted with you and the professional design services offered. Cover details of your company values, design approach, makeup of your team, typical scope of projects and any other relevant information.
• For repeat clients, you can start with a brief reminder of these details, as well as draw upon the past work completed for them, being sure to include any references or relation to the requested new project.

Showcase Multiple Concepts

• One size may not fit all. Be prepared with more than one design possibility if you find your first one falling flat, or if your clients express a desire to adjust project scope or compare more options.
• The same holds true for the ways you deliver these concepts. Use multiple methods to help the homeowner visualize and understand the design plan.

Communication Tips

• As the leader of the meeting, set the stage immediately to put clients at ease. Briefly explain the agenda, including at what points you will be seeking feedback. One method that will reassure the homeowner is to pause periodically to ask if they have comments or questions.
• At the same time, avoid getting too bogged down on a single point to ensure there is sufficient time to get through the entire presentation.

The Power of Self-Confidence

• Being self-assured and projecting confidence without talking down to clients signals to them that you are more than qualified for the job, whether you run your own interior design business or represent a larger design firm. Use your communication style to further convey how excited you are about working on their home.
• Dress professionally, but avoid attire that is uncomfortable or inauthentic to who you are - your choice of clothing can have a direct impact on how confident you feel.

Avoiding Game Day Jitters

• While it’s certainly effective to review your agenda one final time prior to your meeting, most designers would recommend allowing yourself a few minutes to clear your head beforehand.
• If you are a caffeine fan, resist the temptation to overload  on it - you want to project innate confidence and your natural grounded energy, without being overshadowed by artificial energy or the infamous caffeine jitters.
• And one final interior design presentation tip: shake off any residual nerves by standing up and stretching beforehand, and consider adopting a power stance or two to prime your presentation confidence, especially if you are going to be sitting down throughout the presentation.

Step 4: Enhancing Your Interior Design Presentation: Advanced Tips and Practices

Successful interior design presentations create a memorable first impression that will stay with clients long after you close your laptop and pack your swatches away for the drive home. Effective presenters forge a connection with homeowners on multiple levels through effective use of detail, visualization, lighting and more. Here are some more tips for making your design meeting an impactful one:

Demonstrate Attention to Detail

• Make your presentation accurate and detailed. Show your clients that you have considered every aspect of the project, both big and small. Little details like including the exact dimensions of a project space can help demonstrate your sharpness.

Consider your Client

• Pick moments during the presentation to show your clients that you have thoughtfully considered their feedback. For example, if a homeowner prefers a kitchen island with a sink built in, make note of that as you are highlighting the feature.
• The same goes for places where you chose a less expensive option to be cognizant of their budget constraints: clients love to know that they have been listened to.

Leverage Your Expertise

• Look for opportunities to mention your past experience and skills in a particular area - this is another opportunity to leverage your design portfolio if relevant.

Fine Tune Along the Way

• Have alternative ideas in your back pocket that you can pull out as examples in cases where a client balks at a particular paint color or room layout, for example. This demonstrates both your versatility and flexibility as a design pro.

Remember Ambiance

• Clients will better connect emotionally to a design concept when visualizations include effects such as lighting or even sound. Tap all the senses you can, including the tactile features discussed above.

Let’s Get Visual

• The more you can show and not tell, the more connected your clients will be to the presentation. Visualization is not only entertaining, it helps homeowners better understand the concepts and vision.

Imprint Your Brand

• Presentations which are consistent with incorporating logos, company colors and other branding details are more pleasing on the eye, and also leave clients with a lasting impression. 

Next Steps: Client Follow up

Before tying a bow on the interior design presentation, set the agenda for what happens next. This may include noting methods for receiving additional feedback and setting a timeline for project signoff. If the clients suggested any major changes during the presentation, let them know when they will receive a revised plan. 

Depending on the project, more measurements and additional details may be needed to determine a final budget. And, make it as easy as possible for clients to approve the plans by providing them a way to sign off with an e-signature. 

Making effective interior design presentations is one of the best routes toward achieving client satisfaction, securing new clients and keeping current ones coming back for more. Impactful presentations are highly visual, pay close attention to the homeowner’s desires and budget, and provide clients a compelling glimpse of what their space will look like at the project’s end. As a result, mood boards play a central role in every interior designer presentation; if you’re ready to step up your presentation game, try Houzz Pro’s mood board software for the most effortless experience in crafting professional mood boards .

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How to Create a Winning Interior Design Presentation

We see them every day. Beautifully sketched interiors artistically finished off with watercolors, stunning 3D renders that immerse you into an interior designer’s vision for a space. Instagram is overflowing with rows of striking interior design plans to scroll through, while animated walkthroughs in TV makeovers hint at the big reveal that’s yet to come. Impressive as they are, being able to create such stunning visuals is not as hard as you might think. Yes, it takes practice and effort to master these skills, but the benefits are more than worth it. Our team over in Dubai have put together a great guide to help you master interior design presentation skills. You’re welcome!

Interior Design Presentation Techniques & Skills

As an interior designer, creating a stunning presentation can be the difference between you winning a job or it going to someone else. But you might ask yourself “Isn’t it all about the end-result and not impressive artistic skills?” In any design field, first impressions count for everything. In lieu of a physical representation of your ideas, you’ll need strong visual presentation skills to convince your client or interviewer that you’re the right person for the job. This guide can help those already out there pitching for work as well as those of you who are just starting out. Applying these tips to your portfolio, as well as to client presentations will help you to stand out from the crowd from the off.

There are heaps of advantages to having strong visual presentation skills.  These tips will stand you in good stead throughout your career working in interior design. Good visual communication skills help designers sell their ideas to clients more easily, clearly and professionally. They ensure that designers and clients are on the same page and seeing the same thing. They also speed up designers’ work and simplify making changes as needed. In addition, they make

With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that designers are flocking to add these tools to their skillset. There are a wide variety of visual communication and presentation techniques for interior designers. Here, we’ve chosen three key skills and tools to use for the concept development and planning stages of the interior design process.

Stage 1 – Sketch for Initial Concept

So you’ve just signed on a new client! You’ve met with them, taken some photos and dimensions of the living room they want designed, and if needed, you have your survey plan ready. You’ve already discussed conceptual options, what trends and colours they prefer, and gone over examples of designs they like. Your client is now waiting for an initial concept from you. What do you do?

You’re excited to start working on your design, but it’s important to first ask yourself: what level of detail in the design is required at this stage? Your focus here should be on communicating a general direction for the plan, and using that to initiate feedback and more detailed discussions.

One of the best ways for you to quickly express an initial idea is to use the age-old reliable technique of hand drawing. A hand-drawn sketch will take you minutes to do. Not all interior design presentations have to be perfect. It’s allowed to look a little messy, and proportions and accuracy don’t need to be spot on. The bare bones are there to build on, but it hasn’t fully taken an exact shape yet.

At this point, you will have a rough idea of your floor-plan, and the amount and type of furniture that fits the space, but haven’t yet defined the exact items and their measurements. The loose style of the sketch reflects the fluidity of the design at this early stage.

The three types of sketches you can use are:

• Floor-plans to give an idea of space distribution, zones and traffic flow
• Perspective drawings to show specific zones
• Elevations to show specific walls and furniture in that view.

This handy blog will teach you the basics of room planning.

What sophisticated tools will you need for this? Mainly, the humble pencil… as well as an eraser, good quality art paper, a pen to finish off the sketch with. And if you want to add colour at this stage, then either colouring pencils, watercolours, or pastels.  You can also go the digital route and use tablets or smart phones with sketching features that make it really easy to add colour and make changes.

As a designer, you’re not required to show off exceptional artistry, but it is recommended that you develop good skills in sketching and perspective drawing. The better you sketch, the clearer you’re able to communicate your ideas. This creates a more professional impression as well as a more impactful interior design presentation that you can share with your client.

If you’re lucky, your client will approve the idea right away. But if you find that your design direction is off-track, then it’s back to the drawing-board for a revised concept. If your client agrees with your concept but wants minor changes, you can either send a revised sketch, or the same draft can be signed off, with notes added on the amendments.  

Stage 2 – Line Drawings for Layouts & Materials

Now’s it’s time to fine-tune! The basic concept you’ve presented needs to become more accurate, and your measurements need double-checking. You’re also starting to identify specific options for furniture and get their measurements. 

Creating accurate floor-plans at this stage will give you a clear idea whether you’re overloading your space with pieces or still have plenty of room left. Along with these, you’ll also create detailed elevations showing the different heights and openings. All of this will help determine the nature of your shopping list.

What should be your tool of choice? AutoCAD , naturally! This software has been the industry standard to draft floorplans and elevations for decades, and for good reason. Using AutoCAD will ensure that your interior design presentations look slick, professional and jump off the page.

With AutoCAD, it will take you just a few hours to create your drawings. You can also draw your furniture items as per exact dimensions, or easily add them from the program’s furniture library. This will ensure that all the furniture you’ll order or custom-make will fit in its designated areas, and help you make quick calculations for quantities of materials needed for all types of wall and floor finishes.

In our imaginary scenario, your AutoCAD 2D plans are now done and shared with the client. They reply informing you that after thinking about it, they’ll need to add a reading corner, and they’re not a big fan of the L-shaped sofa. No problem! Because you have a digital file that can be easily edited. It takes minutes to make the changes and send the revised drawings, which get approved this time around. Imagine this using hand-drawn sketches which need to be done from scratch each time a change in made?

To use AutoCAD, you’ll need to subscribe to a software license and install the software on your computer. AutoCAD is free for students studying with the NDA. All you have to do is download the software and upload proof of your student ID or confirmation letter. Find out more here on the Autodesk website.

There are plenty of video tutorials on the dedicated AutoCAD website as well as on YouTube. Or you could sign up for a short online course with a provider like Udemy to master these skills quicker.

Stage 3 – 3D Models to Illustrate Zones, Furniture & Accessories

You’re now progressing fast with the design development. This is one of the best bits of putting together an interior design presentation for a client. You get to go shopping for everything from flooring, paint, wallpaper and fabrics, curtains, cushions, and furniture pieces all on someone else’s budget!

Because there are many decisions that will be based on this stage, your client will now want a clear idea of the exact finishes you’ve chosen and how they go together. It’s critical that you present this stage with confidence and clarity.

What’s the best way to show all these different finishes and styling choices? You’ll need to make sure that you create a realistic feeling of the layout and different zones as well as represent your colour, texture and furniture choices with accuracy and to the best of your ability. This is the big one!

SketchUp Pro is the most popular and easiest way to achieve a professional presentation which shows your scheme in its best light. This 3D modeling software not only helps clients visualize the finished design, but it’s also invaluable to help designers audit their concepts before final decisions are made.

You can create a 3D model for the project by inputting your AutoCAD drawings and incorporating all of your selections. When you see your scheme in 3D, say you find that the walls look too dark and the flooring doesn’t quite work. SketchUp will enable you to mockup different ideas and test different materials so that you can either present the choices to your client or work out which fits before presenting.

But now that your client has a clearer idea of what the space will feel like, they ask if it’s possible to add a custom-made piece of furniture as a semi partition. So it’s back to SketchUp again, where you easily calculate the space you have and digitally design a bookcase to fit. Easy peasy!

As with AutoCAD, you’ll need to subscribe to SketchUp Pro and download the software on your computer. There is a web-only version that’s free, but it’s not recommended if you want to use the program for interior design projects as it’s just too limited in functionality. Again, students at the NDA get a special deal on SketchUp Studio which includes SketchUp Pro, LayOut and StleBuilder. CadSoft Solutions currently have a student offer for £46.80 for an annual subscription . Tutorials are easily found on the website and YouTube , or again you can sign up for a short course.

Stage 4 – Animated Walkthrough for Final Sign-off

So what’s next? You’ve done all of your plans; your interior design presentation is complete, and your client has made all the changes they want. Surely now you just need to make the concepts into reality? Wrong. Changing things past this point will cause serious issues for you and your suppliers so it’s best to make sure that your client is 100% happy and can visualize the entire scheme and how they will live in the space.

Using SketchUp again, you can create a few simulation scenes to help your client visualize each zone as well as the full space. When you finally meet with your client with the full and final presentation, they will be able to walk through each room or area and fully immerse themselves in the room of their dreams. There’s nothing quite like that level of realism to prove that you’re a pro at this game! It’ll be at this stage the you get the green light and can finally move things from dream to reality.

Because you’ve invested in learning practical skills and helpful tools, you’ve saved lots of time, presented your vision clearly, and left little room for miscommunication.

Study Interior Design Online

Here at the NDA, we’ve been teaching Interior Design for over 30 years. Our courses don’t just teach you the basics of styling your home, they lead to a fully accredited professional qualification. Whether you study an Interior Design Diploma or one of our specially created interior design degrees, you’ll be trained by experts in the field. 

All of our qualifications are taught via our Virtual Learning Studio so you can fit your studies in at a tine to suit you. Click the link in the box below to find out more. 

Want to Learn to Create Professional Interior Design Presentations?

From Diplomas to Degrees, we offer the best interior design courses to fit in with your busy life! Take a look at our courses.

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How to Create a Successful Architecture Presentation Board

• Updated: December 31, 2023

Architecture is as much about effective communication as it is about innovative design. At the heart of this communicative process lies the architecture presentation board, a tool quintessential for architects to convey their vision, ideas, and concepts.

These boards are more than mere visual aids; they are the narrative bridge between an architect’s imaginative conception and the practical world where these ideas may take shape. They are not just a requirement for academic submissions or professional proposals but are a fundamental aspect of the architectural design process.

They serve as a canvas where ideas are visualized, concepts are explained, and designs are brought to life for various audiences, be it clients, peers, competition judges, or the general public.

Understanding how to effectively create and present these boards is crucial, as a well-crafted presentation not only showcases a finished scheme but also reflects the thought process, attention to detail, and the authors ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly and visually.

What are architecture presentation boards used for?

Architecture presentation boards serve several different purposes:

• Students use them to present work to their professors and peers.
• Professionals use them to present designs to clients, committees, shareholders, and exhibitions.
• They may be a means to win a commission, or they may help to take a project into the next stage. 

What is the purpose of an architecture presentation board?

Architecture presentation boards are a tool to showcase your work. They are a way to draw your viewers into your design process and methods, providing an overall summary and vision for the project. You are communicating your design and showcasing your artistic skills, and your sense as a designer. 

Every successful project has a central concept, a “big picture” theme that gives it purpose. When you look at your project, what is that big idea?

As it is central to your whole project, this will guide you as you prioritize your work and determine the flow of your ideas. The primary purpose of your project is to communicate this central concept in the best way possible.  

AutoCAD Template Kit

Format your drawings with the correct set of tools. This CAD template enables you as a designer to spend your time on what matters – the design!

Stop searching for CAD blocks!

How do you layout an architecture presentation board, 01 – structure/order.

Before you begin laying out your presentation board, think about the main points you want to convey. From there, determine what images and graphics will best represent those ideas. Gather all of the information you will need, making a note of what graphics and text you will need to communicate your ideas.

Remember, you are essentially telling a story, so pay close attention to the flow of the narrative as you arrange your elements. Consider the beginning, middle, and end of the story you want to tell.

Depending on the guidelines you are given, you may present your boards side-by-side, as separate boards presented in a sequence, or as one big poster. If no strict parameters are in place, figure out what structure and layout will tell your story the best. While a series of boards will logically convey your story, one big board is often the easiest option.

02 – Orientation

Will your presentation board be oriented in portrait or landscape? Sometimes you will get to make that call, but many times it will be determined for you by your director, client, or professor. Make sure you know beforehand what the parameters are.

If you get to choose, give it some careful thought. Which orientation will give your graphics the room they need to be the most impactful? Which orientation gives your whole project a natural flow for your narrative? 

03 – Size

Much like orientation, you may or may not get to decide what size your presentation boards will be. You will often have restrictions that limit you to a specific board size and a certain number of boards.

Make sure you know your limitations before you start working on your layout. Your boards should all be the same size to achieve continuity.

You can use a combination of different sizes to produce a board of equivalent size. For example, a combination of two A1  boards will add up to an A0 board. 

04 – Layout

The most common way to organize your layout is by using a grid. Using a grid will help keep the boards in your project consistent.

If you are using InDesign , you can achieve this uniformity by creating a master page that acts as a template for your whole project.

Templates are useful because they can save you a great deal of time, and they ensure uniformity throughout your project. Your grid should include spaces for titles, numbering, your name, and any other information that will repeat on each board.

Before you start laying out your actual boards, sketch out various configurations so you can determine what will work best. You can do a small-scale sketch to get the basic idea of the flow of each board. This allows you to change the arrangement of the elements before you commit to anything on your boards.

You can do this initial phase using software or sketching it out on paper.

After you have determined what type of layout you want to use, estimate how much space you will need for each element on the page. Each graphic needs to be large enough to have an impact. Determine how much space you would like to leave in between each graphic.

Use equal spacing throughout your project to create continuity. Here is an excellent tutorial on planning your layout using Indesign:

The layout of each board should show the relationship between all of the elements. It should be clear to read and follow a logical left-to-right and top-to-bottom progression.

Imagine a viewer looking at your presentation. What do you want them to see first? What is the best way to make them understand your project? Does your layout achieve this?

You should also pay attention to the relationship between each board. Is there a logical progression from one board to the next? Does the sequence make sense? If you will not display the boards in a configuration that makes them all visible at once, make sure you number them, so your viewers follow the correct sequence.

Don’t feel the need to fill every square inch of your presentation board. Leave enough space so that it doesn’t look too busy or cluttered. On the other hand, don’t leave too much space either, or it will look like you didn’t finish the board, didn’t have enough material for the board, or that you didn’t work very hard.

05 – Visual Hierarchy

Some of your images need to garner more attention than others. Consider all of the graphics and text you will be using. Which images are central to your main idea?

The images that are essential for communicating your vision should take up more space in the grid. You should have an image that people can see from a distance and other images that they can see from up close. This creates a visual hierarchy.

What is the most important aspect of your project? Make that the element people can see from a distance. There are ways to accomplish this in addition to making it the largest element on the board. For example, you can use color to draw the viewer’s eye to a particular graphic, especially if the rest of the board is monochromatic.

06 – Background

The background of your presentation board should be simple. This allows the viewer to see all of the elements without the distraction of a busy background. You don’t want anything to detract from the critical details of the board. Your graphics and text should be the primary focus; don’t use bold colors or textures that will detract from that.

A white, or even light gray, background will make your graphics and text stand out. It will give your presentation a professional look that isn’t too busy. You can use other colors if they help convey your central concept; just make sure the background is plain enough that the viewer focuses on the design, not the background.

Be very selective when using a black background, as it may make the text harder to read, and your graphics may not stand out as much as you would like them to.

Whatever color you choose for your background, use it to your advantage.  Effective use of negative space can make your design look clean and professional.

07 – Color Scheme

Many professionals and students stick with black, white, and gray for presentation boards. While this can give your boards a professional look, don’t be afraid to add a pop of color. While sticking with greyscale may seem like a safe choice, there is a risk of blacks and greys making your design seem cold and lifeless.

Think about ways you can use color to bring life to your design. You may opt to add just one color, such as green for landscaping, to provide contrast to an otherwise monochromatic presentation. You could also bring in an additional color to represent a particular building material (brick, glass, wood, etc.).

You can also choose a brighter, more eye-catching color, such as yellow or orange, as a feature in your diagrams . Whatever you choose, use the same color across all of your boards to maintain a consistent flow.

If color is one of the main focuses of your project, or if there are details that you cannot adequately represent in greyscale, then you should feel free to delve deeper into the world of color. Don’t limit yourself to merely an accent color in this case, but don’t take it too far and make the mistake of overusing color to the point where it is a distraction.

08 – Font

All of the text throughout your project should be in one font. Don’t use font style as an avenue for creativity; it is more important to make sure the font style and size produce a readable, consistent product.

Sans serif fonts, such as Helvetica or Futura, will give your presentation a clean, minimalist look.

Avoid script or handwriting fonts, as they will not give your boards a clean, professional look. Keep the color of your font dark (black or dark grey work well) to provide contrast to a light background.

Whichever font you select, make sure the style and size are readable for your viewers before you finalize your boards. The best way to do this is to print out your text on an A3 paper, pin it up somewhere, and stand back to see how it will look when it is displayed.

A full breakdown, list, and description of the most popular fonts for architecture can be found here .

09 – Title

The most common placement for a title bar is the top left since your board will most likely follow a left-to-right and top-to-bottom progression. Many successful and professional-looking boards have titles at the top right, at the bottom, or somewhere in the middle.

Choose the position that makes the most sense for your project. As with other design decisions, make sure it does not distract the viewer from seeing the big picture.  

Make sure the title placement is consistent from board to board. This consistency will be both visually appealing and professional.

10 – Text

Keep your explanations concise. People are not going to spend much time reading lengthy descriptions, so only include relevant information and keep it short. Remember that your text boxes are part of your visual hierarchy, so utilize the size and alignment to complement your graphics. Consider the various ways you can align the text within the text box. What flows best? What is pleasing to the eye?

Aside from your title, do not use all capitals in your text. Your work will look more professional and be easier to read if you stick with the standard rules of capitalization.

Whenever possible, use a graphic or a sketch, rather than an explanation, to portray an idea. Since this is a graphic presentation, you want your graphics to tell the story, not your text. Include a concise statement that highlights the features of your design. This is basically your sales pitch; lengthy explanations will make you lose your audience.

11 – Image Selection

The selection of images is a critical part of putting your presentation board together. The graphics you choose can make or break your entire design presentation.

You want to select the images that best convey the important details of your project. If you use too many images, your presentation may appear cluttered and confusing. If you use too few images, it may look like you did not put much effort into your presentation.

Over the course of your project, you have generated countless sketches, renderings, models, and drawings. Resist the temptation to include everything just to show how hard you worked. Keep your big picture in mind and determine which images will directly show or best support that idea.

12 – Models

On occasion, a physical model, or even several models showing different aspects of your design, may be required for your presentation board. This is an additional means of communicating your vision to your viewers.

There are several materials you can choose for your model. Card and cardboard are inexpensive and come in various weights, finishes, and colors.

Foam board is also available in various widths and thicknesses. It is generally white, but it also comes in other colors. It is very lightweight and sturdy, making it an ideal material for your presentation board.

Balsawood is another good option. It is easy to work with and comes in varying weights. The material you choose will depend on the look you are trying to achieve as well as how much weight you can adhere to your presentation board.  

Your model pieces can be cut by hand with tools such as an X-Acto knife or a scalpel. If you have access to a laser cutter, it will save you some time and give you more precision.

13 – Time Constraints

Give yourself enough time to produce a well-thought-out, effective, visually appealing presentation. You spent a considerable amount of time on your design; it would be a shame to rush through your presentation boards. Give each part of the process enough attention so that your final product really showcases and highlights your talent and hard work. 

Time management is critical when working on a big project like this. It can seem overwhelming at first, so split the project into smaller sub-tasks to make it more manageable. Give yourself a deadline for each of those smaller tasks. Make a schedule that shows which tasks you will accomplish each day. Make sure you leave yourself a little wiggle room in case anything unexpected comes up.

What should be included in an architecture presentation board?

Unless you receive explicit instructions regarding what to include in your presentation boards, it is up to you which elements make the cut. When you are deciding what elements to incorporate into your project, reflect on what will best explain your design.

When someone completely unfamiliar with your project is looking at your boards, what do you want them to see?

When deciding what text to include in your project, make sure you include an introduction, your design brief, and any applicable precedents. In addition, you will want to include concise textual explanations as needed throughout your presentation.

For your graphic representations, you want to include the basics: elevations, floor plans, and sections. You can represent these with 3d drawings, perspectives, or renders.  You may also include some key features of your design that make it unique, and in addition to highlighting the finished product, select elements that show your concept and design development.

Some additional tips:

• When choosing a perspective view, select one that highlights the best aspects of your design. This graphic is usually the most prominent picture on the presentation board. The hero image!
• You will want to include at least two different elevation views so your viewers can get a sense of the bigger picture.
• Don’t be afraid to include sketches. If you include some sketches that show the progression from a simple idea to the final product, you can communicate your vision as well as your process.

When you are adding all of these elements to your presentation board, make sure each graphic representation of the plan has the same orientation. If one picture has north pointed in one direction and another picture has north pointed in a different direction, it can be disorienting for the viewer.

Likewise, each graphic should use the same scale unless there is one picture that is bigger than the others for the purpose of visual hierarchy.

There is one obvious detail that you may inadvertently overlook. Make sure your name is on your presentation board. If you have more than one board, put your name on each one. The name is in the bottom right-hand corner, but it can also appear in the title bar.

Types of Architectural Presentation Boards

Organizing your architectural presentation sheets into specific categories can be a very effective way to present your projects. There are several types of architectural presentation boards, and the following tips can help you present your project at different stages:

C onceptual board

Concept sheets are a type of presentation board that showcase your initial ideas and approach to a project. They typically include information about the concept behind the project and how design decisions were made. It is important to submit concept sheets before presenting your architectural drawings and renderings.

When creating concept sheets, you may want to include conceptual collages and diagrams to help explain your ideas to the audience. These can be created using 3D modeling software or programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. The goal of concept sheets is to clearly and simply present the various stages of your project to the review panel.

Site a nalysis board

Before beginning a project, architects perform thorough analyses to determine the needs, conditions, and limitations of the site. This analysis serves as the foundation for the concept development. Site analysis boards may include site analysis, urban scale analysis, sociocultural analysis, analysis of physical conditions, and environmental analysis.

It is important to conduct extensive research and present your findings in a clear and organized way, as analysis boards can help reinforce the concepts presented in your architectural drawings.

It is also important to keep in mind that the jury members may have difficulty understanding analysis presented alongside the architectural drawings.

Technical / Detail Board

Technical drawings are a crucial aspect of architectural projects, as they help to depict the structural elements of a design and guide the construction process. It is important to present technical drawings in a clear and organized manner, particularly in application projects and student projects.

Technical drawing boards should typically include a master plan at a scale of 1/5000 or 1/1000, as well as site plans and floor plans at a scale of 1/500, and sections and elevations at a scale of 1/200. Detail drawings, including system sections and details at scales of 1/20, 1/10, and 1/5, should also be included on the technical drawing boards.

These drawings will help to provide a more complete understanding of the project to the review panel.

Professional Boards

While student projects and competition entries are evaluated by a panel of judges, in professional practice, the client serves as the “jury” for your work. Instead of preparing presentation boards in the same way you would for school or competition projects, it is important to create presentations that will appeal to clients.

The most important factor for most clients is the design of the living space, so it can be helpful to focus on renderings and plain plans rather than technical drawings. The visual appeal of your presentation boards, including the color scheme and atmosphere in the renderings, as well as your ability to effectively present and explain your ideas to the client, will also be important factors in their evaluation of your work.

Programs, Software, and Tools

There are several software applications you can use to build your presentation board. Choose one that you are already familiar with, so you aren’t trying to learn new software while you are doing your layout. That is an added stressor that you just don’t need!

InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop are excellent programs, but if you need something a bit more simple, Microsoft Word, Pages, Powerpoint, or Keynote will also work. 

InDesign was designed for making presentations. AutoCAD was designed for constructing plans. Photoshop was designed for editing raster images. Illustrator was designed for creating vector art. While some people are able to make their whole presentation using Illustrator, Photoshop, or even PowerPoint, it makes more sense to use each piece of software in a way that takes advantage of its strengths.

You can import files from AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Illustrator into InDesign and take advantage of the strengths of each application.

Before you delve into your own presentation board, do some research. Look online for examples and make a note of the elements you like. Combine that inspiration with your creativity to produce a stunning presentation. 

Here are some websites you can use for inspiration:

The President’s Medals Winners

Pinterest – Architectural Presentation Boards

World Architecture Students Community – Presentation Boards

FAQ’s about architecture presentation boards

How do you present an architecture presentation.

Here are some general guidelines for presenting an architecture presentation:

• Define your objective : Clearly define the purpose of your presentation and the main ideas or arguments you want to convey.
• Organize your material : Gather and organize your material in a logical and coherent manner that supports your objectives. This may include drawings, images, models, diagrams, and text.
• Create a clear and visually appealing layout : Use a layout that is easy to follow and that effectively presents your material. Consider using contrast, hierarchy, and balance to guide the viewer’s eye.
• Practice your presentation : Practice your presentation to ensure that you are comfortable with your material and can deliver it in a clear and confident manner.
• Use visual aids effectively : Use visual aids such as slides, drawings, and models to supplement your presentation and help illustrate your points. Avoid overloading the viewer with too much information and focus on presenting the most important ideas.
• Engage your audience : Engage your audience by using a variety of presentation techniques, such as asking questions, using storytelling, and using interactive elements.
• Conclude with a summary : Recap the main points of your presentation and conclude with a clear and concise summary.

Why do architects use presentation boards?

As explained above, architecture presentation boards are commonly used by architects and designers to visually communicate their ideas and designs.

Presentation boards typically consist of a series of large format panels that can be mounted on a wall or a stand. These panels can be used to display a variety of materials, such as drawings, images, models, diagrams, and text.

Presentation boards are an effective way to present a comprehensive overview of a project or design concept, and they can be used to showcase the key features and characteristics of a project.

They are often used in design reviews, presentations, exhibitions, and competitions , and can be a useful tool for architects and designers to communicate their ideas to a variety of audiences, including clients, stakeholders, and reviewers.

Presentation boards can be customized to suit the specific needs of the project and can be designed to effectively convey the key ideas and concepts of the design, enabling architects and designers to effectively present and showcase their work in a clear and visually appealing manner.

To Sum Up…

Even the most exceptional design concept can appear uninspired if you do not present it well.

You have spent weeks, maybe even months, on your design. Don’t sell yourself short by not communicating your vision well. The professional, creative, and aesthetic quality of your presentation will affect how your work is received.

Every design project begins with site analysis … start it with confidence for free!.

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20 Tips to Master The Art of Client Presentation for Interior Designers

13 Mins Read

February 4th, 2024

Kimberly Elizabeth

With over a decade of expertise in the design realm, Kimberly is trained at the prestigious FIT in NYC, she excels in curating harmonious spaces with a keen focus on symmetry and function.

Currently at

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Importance of Client Presentations to Close Deals

What is the one thing that can improve your chances of landing an interior design project? A presentation ! It is a visualization of what interior designers will offer for any customer. As a result, your customers will have a better idea of what they will achieve at the end of the project. However, the question that most interior designers may ask is, how do you present the interior design to close the deal?

When designing for any interior design client, there are several important factors to consider like the space (office or home design), budget, clients and their family members, client’s style, and way of living. As a designer, these are your styling cues that help create better visualizations for the client. 

In the typical interior design process, it can take up to 2-4 weeks to collate design inspirations, elements, quotes and create a presentation board. However, it is essential to have a signed contract or a retainer before you begin the process of creating a presentation board.

The interior design contract clearly defines the budget, pricing and other prerequisites for the project, so you keep that in mind while planning the design. Also, sourcing the data related to the client’s vision of the space and expectations are crucial for your deadline planning as a part of project management. Once all of these activities are over, the next phase is a one-on-one presentation with the client.

It is here that you need to have a presentation plan ready to execute. There are several elements of a successful client presentation, and here we will discuss twenty of them.

Read also – 14 Tips To Build Strong Brand for Your Interior Design Business

20 Best Client Presentation Tips for Interior Designers for Successful Deals:

1. design rendering.

When it comes to client presentation tips for interior designers , 3D rendering is an approach used as a last resort. However, we are discussing it first here for two significant reasons. First is the advanced form of visualizations that a render may offer to the clients. It allows them to visualize the exact design in a three-dimensional format that resembles the final result. 

The second reason is how it can positively influence the client. It is more than just a design mockup that digitally enhances the look of furniture pieces, floor plans, and even entire spaces like the living rooms. Your clients get to know what the design will be once the project is complete. 

However, it is not so popular among designers as most of them outsource rendering. Thus, there is an extra cost that is to be reimbursed.

Read also – 15 Best 3D Rending Software

2. Design Boards

One of the critical foundations of interior design presentations is design boards that help clients understand different design elements and their final outlook. Design boards can be created with cork boards, pins, and paper. It is a simple board that does not need anything fancy and can yet convey the design effectively. 

You can print images of furniture pieces, create swatches for color schemes, print pictures of rugs, different features, lighting, and flooring, and pin them on the board. Adding fabric samples and upholstery or curtains can make it more intuitive.

Image Credit: Unsplash.com

Design boards allow you to get all the data related to different design ideas, and space heuristics can help in better visualization. However, it is essential to understand that a design board is different from a mood board. The presentation is related to the real design of space with a design board than inspiration images used in a mood board. 

With modern technologies and digitization, you can now use software like Photoshop to create a digital design board. Then, you can either print out such a digital design board or present it directly from a device like a tablet or PC. 

Read also – 15 Best Interior Design Software To Design Digital Boards

3. Dress Code

It may sound stupid to many, but dressing up relevant to the client’s style, space, and environment can make a difference. According to Victoria Sanchez , a prominent interior designer and founder of Victoria at Home, “Walking into a client’s home with your four-inch high heels when you will present designs for a family with kids can be awkward.”

Youtube Video – The Art of Client Presentation by Victoria Sanchez | FoyrTalks2020 | September 23 – YouTube

She further states that walking in with a pair of jeans on for presenting an interior design for a country club project may not be a great idea. Thus, the concept is to dress according to the project’s theme, adding to the aesthetic element of interior design and aligning with the space heuristics.

4. Organized Presentation

Victoria also asks interior designers to stay organized for their presentations. She emphasizes that if your interior design presentations are not organized, they will act as an indicator of how inefficient your services will be for a client.

Here are some tips that she shares:

• Try to have every aspect of the presentation planned before the meet.
• Don’t have the swatches, material samples, or even a digital board unorganized.
• Keep all the design elements in chronological order, which can assist you in explaining the process.
• Don’t waste time going back to your studio for little things related to the presentation, as that can be deemed inefficient.

Read also – Digital Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers

5. User Experience of Presentations

While interior design is an aesthetics-based concept, there are some design elements that you need to have in physical form. In layman’s terms, the feel of touching a material can be more stimulating than just visual appeal. This is related to the fabrics, material of furniture pieces, curtains, carpets, etc. 

Adding physical samples of the fabrics and allowing your clients to feel them through touch will help drive the decision-making. You can even create a sample board with all the materials pinned for a better experience. There can be one hero sample with other options, which will enable clients to make a choice.

6. Moodboards

Apart from the design boards and sample boards, mood boards are also a great way to design presentations. It is a collation of different design inspirations that offer cohesive visualization for clients. However, mood boards are highly suited for presentation to a new client. But if you are looking to close a design project deal, you may need a more comprehensive design board. 

Read also – 14 Tips To Create Mood Boards for Interior Design

7. Master of the Art

There is no denying that you should be at your best for the entire project, but you need to assert your expertise when it comes to a design presentation. However, it does not mean you throw jargon that your clients don’t understand, but help them with expert advice and choices.

Also, try to communicate your anecdotes from different projects you have worked on over the years to showcase your expertise.

Read also – How To Revive Your Interior Design Business Post-COVID-19?

8. Optional Concepts

Sometimes a single design concept is enough for your client to be impressed, and most of the time, it might not be a possibility. It’s a luxury that every interior designer does not have, and you should be prepared for it. 

Especially when it comes to new clients that do not have an extensive idea about interiors or your work, you need to offer multiple options of design concepts. One way to do that is by creating multiple mood boards for presentations. 

In such a scenario, when you need to present multiple concepts and there is a shortage of time, you can leverage mood board-creating software for multiple digital iterations. For example, you can create three iterations:

• A design concept of your choice
• Your client’s choice
• The middle ground

Read also – AI-Powered Interior Design Software

9. Design Context

Most designers get the presentation wrong when they attempt to present too many aesthetic-based concepts out of context, making it a beauty contest. One of the critical client presentation tips for interior designers is to showcase a single concept contextual to the client’s needs rather than showing multiple options without context.

You can use a PowerPoint slideshow, which will help clients better understand the design plan and visualize the project. 

Read also – 10 Best Interactive 3D Presentation Software

10. Naming Your Idea

Showing exuberance and confidence is essential to ensure that your client understands the potential in your design plan and design firm. One way to ensure confidence is to name your concepts. If you don’t name it, these ideas will be just vague thoughts in your mind. So, name your design concept suitably to present your idea better.

11. Design Sketches

One of the best ways to express your ideas during the design presentation stage is using the age-old hand drawing technique. You can create hand-drawn design sketches and include them in the presentation slideshow. However, it can look messy, and you may opt for software that can help you create 2D sketches digitally. 

Image Credit: nda.ac.uk

It can offer a rough idea of the floor plan, furniture pieces, and even different design elements that fit the space. The sketch may not define the exact elements and measurements,  but it will offer a fluid design for early-stage visualization. 

There are three types of sketches that you can create: 

• Floor plans sketches (showing space heuristics)
• Sketches to define space zones
• Elevation sketch

A word of caution, don’t skip a sketch just because it’s a conventional method.

Read also – How To Draw A Floor Plan?

12. Layouts & Materials

When you move on from a basic design sketch to a more enhanced presentation plan, you will need a layout with accurate measurements. You will define your clients’ placements, sizes, and materials, from the floor plan to the furnishing. However, while you can offer options for materials, quantity can be discussed during the presentation, especially if the agreement is signed.

13. Storyboards

Storyboards are an old-school method related to any concept presentation, but you can use the concept of storytelling for design presentations. For example, if you are designing an office for an online platform like LinkedIn, you need to have that vision embedded in the design.

The best way to ensure visualization of the vision is to employ a storytelling-type design presentation with several anecdotes from the client’s journey.

14. Keeping It Realistic

Interior designing is a profession where creativity meets excellence to create the magic of aesthetics and comfort. However, it is essential to understand that there is a budget on the line, and you need to create the design plan according to it. So, make a realistic and practical interior design solution for the presentation.

Read also – Pricing Strategies for Interior Designers

15. Client-Specific Approach

As a designer, you will have to present your designs to different types of clients. While it can be a little easier presenting a new concept to clients you have worked with before, new clients need a solid design plan. So, devise a client-specific approach to create presentations as per the client’s sensibility, behavior, and requirements. 

16. The Problem-Solving Game

A design is not just about aesthetics but also has to offer solutions to the client’s problems. For example, a corporate client might be looking towards a work-from-home setup that is more functional than aesthetic during the pandemic. So, your design presentation needs to be innovative and offer solutions for the client’s problems.

Read also – How To Get Clients for Interior Design Business?

Image Credit: unsplash.com

17. Self-explanatory Details

Apart from being contextual and using the storytelling approach, your design presentation should be self-explanatory in many ways. For example, furniture piece designs, placements, and even the overall look can be self-explanatory by leveraging 3D mockups that you can design using software like Photoshop. 

18. Attention to Clients

Your design presentation is not just yours, and that is the most significant thing to keep in mind. Being attentive is one of the best client presentation tips for interior designers . Try to listen to what your clients want from the interior design, and then fuse your expertise to bring that ‘wow’ element to the project.

Read also – How To Pick The Right Interior Design Clients?

19. Business Aspects

Apart from all the design elements, materials, mockups, and aesthetics, you need to discuss the business aspects of the project. These factors can include budget, material procurement, vendor details, and a timeline for the project.

19. Noting Inputs

Throughout the design presentation, you need to note down each input from your clients. It will help your design sync with what your client wants and help you quickly adjust your presentation. 

Read also – How Do Designers Get Interior Design Clients On A Low Budget?

With all these client presentation tips for interior designers, the recipe is ready for any professional to win their projects. 

Having the right business tools will make each stage of the interior design process simpler and more efficient. Foyr Neo is a powerful interior design platform built with you, the designer, in mind. Take design ideas from concept to a photo-realistic rendering in just minutes with a suite of advanced tools, including:

• The ability to choose from thousands of preloaded items like furniture, plants, accessories and much more – or upload your own 3D models to create the exact look your clients want.
• Produce 4K, photo-realistic renderings on demand.
• Advanced lighting options and visualization settings.
• Real-time 3D editing capabilities.

By combining the functionality of multiple tools in one platform we empower designers to spend less time with software and more time with their clients. You can try Foyr Neo free for 14-days now and experience the power of limitless design.

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Successful Architectural Presentation Boards

• by Elif Ayse Fidanci
• 7 June 2022

Presentations are visual tools that represent your projects and works in architecture for you. Architectural presentations are designed both for juries and submissions during student years and for customers in professional life. Architects present their projects of different scales as architectural presentation boards. In this article, while we talk about the importance of architectural presentation sheets, we will show you the best examples among presentation boards.

How to Develop Presentation Boards

If you want to prepare your architectural presentation boards in a better version and improve yourself, there are a few steps you need to follow. First of all, no matter the scale of your project, from urban design to presentations of interior design projects, your reference generally comes from the concept. The architectural concept is involved at every stage of the design. Your concept also affects the presentation board’s layouts, color choices, font preferences and design language of your diagrams.

Preparing a successful architectural presentation sheet means standing out both for the competition sheets and for the judges at school. In order for the architectural presentations to be appreciated by the juries, your layouts must have clear and understandable designs.

To be successful in this regard, we recommend that you prepare boards with simple and understandable layouts. Also important is the color tones you use to relate to your concept. The colors you choose should be compatible with your projects and should not affect the presentation.

Posters with a simple and understandable layout are not dense in content. The content of the posters may vary according to the layout topics. These topics are analysis sheet, concept sheet, technical drawing sheet or sheets prepared for the presentation of architectural projects to customers in professional life under the headings we have listed below.

In architectural presentation sheets, it is very important to prepare the contents of the posters according to their subjects. We do not want the jury reviewing your presentation to encounter analyzes while reading your project on the concept. In order to present your project in the most effective way with all its phases, you can choose well-designed layouts and sheets separated by simple design language.

Types of Architectural Presentation Boards

It is one of the most effective presentation methods to separate the architectural presentation sheets you have designed to present your projects according to their subjects. Below, let’s look at the types of architectural presentation boards and how to present your project in different phases:

Conceptual Board

Concept sheets consist of posters where you present your approach to the project. It includes what concept an architectural project starts with and how mass decisions are made. Concept boards should be submitted before your architectural drawings and render images. While creating concept boards, you must prepare conceptual collages. From your analysis, you can present all the elements that inspire you while developing the concept with a collage. In addition, it is important that you represent your idea in the simplest and most understandable way with conceptual diagrams. As we mentioned in our previous articles, conceptual diagrams can be created through the 3D modeling software you work with or Adobe Photoshop/ Illustrator. Conceptual diagrams are necessary for you to explain the phases of your project to the jury in the simplest way possible

Technical Drawin g Board

Architectural technical drawings are important for the construction of your project and the representation of its structural elements. Especially in application projects and student projects, you should present your technical drawings completely on technical drawing boards. Technical drawing boards should start with a 1/5000 or 1/1000 scale master plan, include 1/500 scale site plans and floor plans and sections, then 1/200 scale plans and cuts. In addition, detail drawings are required for technical drawing boards. You must add the system sections and detail drawings in 1/20, 1/10, 1/5 scale in these boards.

• Analysis Board

Architects make detailed analyzes before starting the project and as a result, they determine the needs, conditions and deficiencies. Even developing a concept begins as a result of the analysis. Site analysis, urban scale (e.g. Lynch) analysis, sociocultural analysis, analysis of physical conditions (e.g. climate, geography etc.), environmental analysis, these can form the content of analysis boards. Most of the time, where the concept comes from depends on the research at the analysis stage. To reinforce the concepts, we recommend doing lots of analysis and designing analysis boards to present those analysis. It is certain that the analyzes presented together with the architectural drawings are not legible by the members of the jury.

Professional Boards

Student projects and competition projects are examined and evaluated by the members of the jury within a certain period of time. But in professional life, customers are your jury members!

Instead of preparing architectural presentation boards as you do for school and competition projects, you should make presentations that will attract the attention of customers. The most important criterion for a client will be the well-designed living space. Therefore, instead of filling professional drawing boards with technical drawings, you can usually include render images and plain plan drawings. The color harmony of the posters, the atmosphere in the renders and how ready you are verbally for your presentation are very important for these boars to be appreciated.

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Elif Ayse Fidanci

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Zaha Hadid’s Most Recent Design Includes a Bold Central Staircase

By Nick Mafi

Photography by Hufton + Crow

Fresh off winning the Royal Gold Medal award last week , Zaha Hadid has added another of her signature designs to the world—this time in Russia. Located just southeast of central Moscow, the Dominion Office Building is among the first of several new projects to be built for the city’s growing creative and IT communities working in this primarily industrial district. The structure resembles a series of offset white plates stacked on top of one another, interrupted by dark windows. It has nine floors (seven of which are for offices and two basement levels) that total 228,023 square feet.

One of the building’s most striking design elements is an interior staircase that crisscrosses a central atrium, connecting floors and offices. It is both a practical and a symbolic feature created for industries that value interaction and shared spaces. The concept is echoed throughout, with balconies on each level leading into common areas, encouraging interaction among employees of different companies, and shared restaurants and coffee shops on the ground floor.

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Moscow's High Rise Bohemia: The International Business District With No Business

• Written by Dario Goodwin
• Published on March 17, 2015

The Moscow International Business Center (Also known as Moskva-City ) was meant to be Russia ’s ticket into the Western world. First conceived in 1992, the district at the edge of Moscow’s city center is intended to contain up to 300,000 inhabitants, employees and visitors at any given moment and, when completed, will house over 4 million square meters of prime retail, hotel and office space to create what the Russian government desired most from this project: an enormous financial district that could dwarf London’s Canary Wharf and challenge Manhattan . Twenty three years later though, Moscow-based real estate company Blackwood estimates that as much as 45% of this new space is entirely vacant and rents have plummeted far below the average for the rest of Moscow. The only press Moskva-City is attracting is for tenants like the High Level Hostel , a hostel catering to backpackers and other asset-poor tourists on the 43rd floor of the Imperia Tower , with prices starting at $25.50 for a bed in a six-person room. This is not the glittering world of western high finance that was envisioned back in the post-Soviet 90s; but what has it become instead?

As one might expect from a project of this sheer ambition, Moskva-City has a troubled past. The economic crash in 2008 hit Russia hard enough to evict the previous Mayor of Moscow , Yuri Luzhkov, who had been a cheerleader for the district, and replace him with the considerably more austere Sergei Sobyanin, who famously declared that the whole idea was an “urban planning mistake.” But as recently as 2013, the Wall Street Journal was triumphantly claiming that Moskva-City had risen from the dead, citing 80% occupancy rates and glowing quotes from industry insiders claiming that Moskva-City was the "place to be." Driven by record highs in oil prices, Moscow looked poised to become the next Dubai .

Instead, Moscow is now in the grip of an economic winter prompted by western sanctions and drops in the price of oil. The large financial groupings that Moskva-City was meant to shelter have been warned off by their inability to issue credit to international markets, for example - but Moskva-City isn’t just an Empire State Building left empty by the Great Depression.

A fundamental problem that is holding Moskva back compared to the rest of Moscow is the simple fact that currently, getting to Moskva-City is nigh-on impossible at peak hours. Moscow has long been plagued with transport problems, ever since the government failed to match the dramatic expansion of the city with a dramatic expansion of the transport system after the Second World War. Despite being only 2.5 miles from the Kremlin , Moskva-City is only just inside the ring road that bounds the city center and which acts as the only real transport link to it (and as a result, is clogged by construction vehicles.) A railway and metro hub has been finished, but so far only runs a one-stop shuttle service to the closest Metro station that is actually integrated with the rest of Moscow Metro. The isolation of the outer districts is a large, negative part of the Moscow psyche, and it’s not surprising that this is driving away the globetrotting financial elite this project was meant to attract.

The project is managed by architectural practice No.6, which is a constituent part of the large Moscow based practice Mosproject-2 , which is itself a public corporation headed up by Mikhail Vasilyevich Posokhin, who is apparently the “People’s Architect of Russia.” Despite all this state involvement, the project has still managed to become bogged down in bureaucratic infighting - each lot is managed and developed individually, which has led to developers competing for occupants by slashing rates.

Much has been written about the way modern financial districts and towers that inhabit them can be unwelcoming, forbidding or even hostile by design, but the skyscrapers of Moskva-City seem even less friendly than usual. The site - a former stone quarry, chosen out of necessity as the only place in the city center where a new district could be plausibly constructed - is isolated both physically and visually, leaving the cluster a stark anomaly on the city skyline. Even the names seem more imposing than optimistic now: Imperia, City of Capitals , Steel Peak.

The Mercury City Tower , so far the tallest completed building on the site, is officially “a strong reference to Russian constructivism, [which] gives the tower a strong vertical thrust similar to the one found in New York's Chrysler building .” It would be easy to criticize the Mercury City Tower for picking ‘inspirations’ that are so totally opposed to each other - The Chrysler building the defining emblem of American pre-crash confidence and Constructivism created with the express purpose (especially architecturally) of extending the Bolshevik revolution into a social revolution - but the way they smash those two inspirations together is almost beautifully ironic.

Even though the High Level Hostel is less an asset to a financial district than it is a PR problem, it’s been a huge success since opening in September, already ranked 27th out of 766 hostels in Moscow by TripAdvisor. According to the management agency for Moskva-City , 58% of the new occupant signings this year have been non-financial, including a number of small to medium size businesses. Other areas of office space have been occupied by a restaurant and a culinary school, while another space has been redeveloped into a 6,000 seat theater.

While Moskva-City is failing to be a financial district that could take on the world, it’s inadvertently becoming a humanized space catering to the very groups that the Russian economic miracle left behind. Taking advantage of rents lower than the rest of Moscow , the world class facilities and the sheer desperation of the developers, the humanization of Moskva-City could well create the world’s first high-rise bohemia.

Of course, these are not spaces designed for a community, or even for people: these are spaces designed for money, and there’s little scope for changing something that seems so baked into the design of Moskva-City . The High Level Hostel is trading off of the irony of being a hostel in a banking tower, but it’s perfectly possible that at some point people will no longer find this joke funny (especially in a building that seems hostile to the very idea of humor). The isolation of Moskva, even though it allowed this community to spring up in the first place, is just as detrimental to a humanized district as it is to a financial one: even bohemians need to move around the city, or the district risks becoming a black-spot instead of a hot-spot.

Moskva-City’s isolation won’t last forever. The end of construction will open the roads up to traffic, and plans to properly integrate the spur lines of the Metro in this area into the wider system are well under way. The integration of the district will inevitably push up rents, and the Russian economy will eventually boom once again. When that happens, Moskva-City is prime territory to be reconquered by the giants of international finance, and it seems unlikely that the municipal or national governments would want to step in to protect this accidental district. For now, though, the towers capture perfectly this moment of Russia ’s schizophrenic understanding of its place in the world.

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10 architectural styles you can find in Moscow (PHOTOS)

1) Medieval Russian architecture

Moscow’s oldest surviving buildings are the famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin cathedrals, and the cathedral of the 15th century Andronikov Monastery that still has original fragments of frescoes by renowned icon painter Andrei Rublev. Pre-Petrine Russia also left us several stone chamber buildings (including the chambers of the boyars Romanov of the 16th-17th centuries and the Old English Yard of the 15th-17th centuries).

The Kremlin cathedrals (15th century)

The chambers of the Romanov boyars (end of the 16th century – early 17th century)

The Savior Cathedral of Andronikov Monastery (15th century)

2) Baroque style

With the ascension of Peter the Great to the Russian throne, a strong Western influence found its way into Russia, including in architecture. The European Baroque style merged with the Russian Uzorochye style, giving birth to the unique style of the Moscow Baroque, which today can be seen in many churches in Moscow and its outskirts, where noble families built churches for themselves.

The Church of the Intercession at Fili (1690-1694)

The architectural ensemble of Novodevichy Convent (late 18th century)

The Church of the Trinity at Troitse-Lykovo (1698-1703)

3) Gothic architecture

After exhaustion set in with the Baroque style, since it’s marked by excessive decorative elements, architects in Russia began experimenting with the Gothic style. Lancet arches and skyward spires were initially foreign to the Russian eye, but in the end they came into fashion and found their way even into Orthodox church architecture.

Tsaritsyno (18th century)

Elektrozavod (1928)

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary (1901-1911)

The mansion of Zinaida Morozova (1893-1898)

4) The (Neo)-Russian style

After many decades of Russia’s love for all things European, finally under Emperor Alexander III at the end of the 19th century it became fashionable to look to the country’s native roots for inspiration. One of the most vivid examples of the Neo-Russian style is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, which is reminiscent of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The emperor personally approved the architectural design of this cathedral. In Moscow, many houses were built that looked more like terems . On Red Square, a new, stylized building to exhibit the precious national treasures of the State Historical Museum was erected to join the ensemble of medieval buildings. Read more about the Russian style here .

The State Historical Museum (1875-1883)

The house of the merchant Igumnov (1888-1895)

The Shchukin mansion, now the K. A. Timiryazev’s Biological Museum (1892-1915)

5) Art Nouveau

Asymmetric compositions, floral ornaments, mosaic panels, and an appeal to Russia’s past – all of this was characteristic of the development of the Russian Art Nouveau, one of the most unusual architectural styles that was popular at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Wealthy merchants and art connoisseurs were inspired to build mansions for themselves in the Art Nouveau style; one of the main architects of the Art Nouveau in Moscow was Fyodor Schechtel, who built the famous Ryabushinsky Mansion and the Yaroslavsky railway station.

Ryabushinsky Mansion (1900-1903)

Yaroslavsky railway station (1902-1904)

Hotel Metropol (1899-1905)

6) Avant-garde

In the early 1920s, following the destruction of the civil war, the Soviet authorities gave priority to the architecture of the Avant-garde when it came to rebuilding Moscow. The Soviet capital was adorned with experimental buildings that had minimal decoration; however, they had a well thought-out, practical construction with large windows. Constructivism became the leading trend of the Soviet Avant-garde in architecture; the leaders of this movement were architects Konstantin Melnikov, Alexey Shchusev, and the Vesnin brothers.

The headquarters of the Izvestiya newspaper (1925-1927)

The main office of the People's Commissariat for Agriculture (1928-1933)

Bread Factory № 5 (1931)

Melnikov’s House (1927-1929)

7) Soviet Art Deco (Post-Constructivism)

After the Constructivist experiments with shapes and spaces had run its course, Soviet architects found inspiration in the tenets of Classicism, which was more to Stalin’s tastes. This post-Constructivism became the basis for the Soviet interpretation of the Art Deco style in which, for example, the New York City skyscrapers were built in the 1920s. It’s marked by monumentalism, columns, decorations in the form of coats of arms, bas-reliefs and sculptures, as well as a strictness of form and combination of concrete and metal.

The Russian State Library (1928-1958)

The Ministry of Defense on Kolymazhny Lane (1934-1938)

The State Duma (1932-1935)

8) Stalinist Empire style

As the 1930s progressed, Soviet architecture transformed into a style that art historians call the Stalinist Empire style. It was especially noticeable in the post World War 2 era. This was no longer Classicism but, rather, the pompous and triumphant style of a victorious empire. This architectural style is characterized by its columns, porticos, perfect symmetry, curls, stucco, sculptures, oriel windows and decorative cornices, as well as five-pointed stars and the Soviet coats of arms. Both residential and grand public buildings, such as the Moscow river terminal, were built in such a manner. Stalin’s high rises, with their spires reaching skyward, became the apotheosis of this style. Read more about the Stalinist Empire style here .

Moscow State University (1949-1953) 

Central pavilion of VDNKh (1951-1954)

The North River Terminal (1933-1937)

9) Brutalist style

After Stalin, an ideological struggle began against architectural excess, and for almost two decades standardized residential khrushchyovka buildings became commonplace in the country. In the 1970s, however, when the country had grown richer and had more opportunities, the authorities wanted once again to display the might of the Soviet nation. As such, monolithic buildings composed of massive concrete forms without decoration appeared; they impressed with their colossal size and unconventional shapes. For example, there was the ‘Lying Skyscraper’, and a ‘ship house’, which was built for nuclear industry workers (the main idea was that it was supposed to resemble a nuclear reactor). Also, there was the ominous building of the Moscow oncology center. Even the Ostankino TV tower, looking like a space rocket, stands on a massive concrete foundation and adheres to this style.

N.N. Blokhin’s Oncology Center (1972-1976) 

Aviators’ House (1973-1978)

Ship House (1972-1986)

The Ostankino TV tower (1960-1967) 

10) Luzhkov style (Postmodernism)

The 1990s were challenging times for the country – they’re called ‘wild’ because when the USSR collapsed a new era of market economy sprung up. This was the era of the ‘ New Russians ’ and organized crime. With that, however, there was also a lot more freedom. Former Soviet people now discovered everything Western, and they embarked on a journey to find their own sense of style and taste. This was a period of often disastrous architectural experiments. Under Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who ran Moscow with an iron fist, there appeared many buildings that are today included in lists of the Most Tasteless. The architectural experiments of the 1990s were attempt to create a new style using glass, metal constructions, and hi-tech. Nevertheless, they drew inspiration from the architectural styles of the past  – Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and other eclectic styles.

Nautilus Mall (1999)

Egg House (2002)

The House of Music (2002)

Et cetera Theater (2005)

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