3. Detailed design

Following contextual analysis and the development of initial conceptual ideas, the detailed design phase transforms your concepts into a tangible design proposition that relates to a particular place.

Introduction to Detailed Design

Urban Lab I: Graphic Skills, Open Community - A Place to Bring People Together, Design detail. Joseph Chan. Bartlett School of Planning Expo 2020

Urban Design: Place Making, Poplar the living tree, Design Framework detail. Amelie Calafat, Anqi Yang, Rosalina Gadyuchkova, Junfang Lang, Xueqing Hu, Ida Faal. Bartlett School of Planning Expo 2019

Urban Design: Theory to Practice, Poplar Connect, Design Framework detail. Pui Chong (Paco) Chan, Hiu Ying (Cecilia) Lam, Man Pok Leung, Ka Hei Kristin Leung. Bartlett School of Planning Expo 2019

Urban Design: layout, Density & Topology, Park Hill - Holloway Prison Renewal, Design proposal detail. Nadezhda Wigglesworth, Simon Wasser, Sikkharini Cintantyadwisthi, Yilei Xiao. Bartlett School of Planning Expo 2020

Major Research Project, Repurposing the grid system to create convivial streets, Design detail. Matt Faraci-Hardy. Bartlett School of Planning Expo 2020

Through an iterative design process, the aim is to turn design ideas into something that is concrete and deliverable.

There are several design tools that can be used to transform initial design ideas into a more detailed urban design proposition.

These include different types of drawings: site plan, section, elevation, masterplan, etc., and use different graphic techniques in their representation: mapping, sketching, 3D visualisations, etc. 

Introduction handout

Differences between 2D and 3D
Different types of 3D projections
What is a site plan/masterplan in urban design?
What is a section in urban design?

Introduction handout (pdf) →

Software handouts

Technique handouts

3.1 Choose a perspective image from your SketchUp model and export it into Photoshop (pdf)
3.2 Develop a masterplan with Photoshop (adding colour and trees and effects etc.) (pdf)
3.3 Develop a perspective vision with Photoshop (pdf)
3.4 Creating a public realm proposal (pdf) NEW!
3.5 I mport a Google map into SketchUp, scale and trace over it (video)
3.6 Making diagrams using SketchUp and post-produce it with Illustrator (video)
3.7 Develop a 3D model using SketchUp and develop a masterplan to be post-produced using Photoshop (video) NEW!

Design Process Phases

Graphic Design Process Analysing teaser

1. Analysis

Develop your concept and spatial design techniques

Graphic Design Process Visualising teaser

2. Visualisation

Support on how to use content design tools

Graphic Design Process Presenting teaser

4. Presentation

Improve your writing and presentation

Graphic Skills Fundation Course

All UCL Bartlett Planning students have access to our graphic skills course through Moodle.

Find out more and enrol →

Graphic Design Process Techniques teaser

IT help and support

Information on how to get help and support for central IT services across UCL

> ISD help and support
> Software for students