The 10-step framework

1. STEP 1

   Understand what a building designer actually does

   Building designers prepare drawings for planning consent and building consent, coordinate with structural engineers, and typically manage the council submission. They cannot use the protected title "Architect" but many hold Diploma or Bachelor of Building Design qualifications and are members of the Building Designers Association of Australia.

2. STEP 2

   Compare cost against an architect

   Building designer fees are typically 30 to 50 percent lower than architect fees for equivalent scope. This does not mean lower quality; it means a different regulatory framework, different professional insurance requirements, and typically a less prescriptive contract structure.

3. STEP 3

   Check BDAA membership as a quality signal

   Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) membership is voluntary but signals commitment to professional standards. Non-members can still be excellent; membership is one data point, not a filter.

4. STEP 4

   Ask about their council relationships

   Experienced Adelaide building designers know each council duty planner personally. Ask specifically which councils they work in most often. A designer with 30 approvals through your specific council is worth more than one with 300 approvals nationwide.

5. STEP 5

   Confirm scope of drawings

   A full building designer scope includes: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, electrical plans, and construction details. Some designers stop at planning consent drawings; others include full construction documentation. Confirm what you are paying for.

6. STEP 6

   Discuss planning consent risk

   A good building designer flags planning consent risk at concept stage: setback variations, overshadowing, streetscape, overlays. Ask specifically what they see as the top three approval risks on your specific site.

7. STEP 7

   Verify professional indemnity insurance

   Ask for a current certificate of PI insurance. Building designers are not regulated to hold PI insurance in SA, but professional practice standards require it. If they do not carry PI, do not engage.

8. STEP 8

   Understand what they cannot do

   Building designers cannot certify structural design (need a structural engineer), cannot issue building consent (need a private certifier or council building surveyor), and cannot act as contract administrator on some contracts. Coordinate the professional team accordingly.

9. STEP 9

   Check portfolio for your specific build type

   A designer with a strong portfolio in narrow-block infill may not be the right choice for a rural acreage build. Ask to see three completed projects similar to yours from the last 24 months, with addresses you can drive past.

10. STEP 10

    Confirm IP and construction rights

    Building designer contracts should specify who owns the drawings, whether you can use them with a different builder later, and what happens to the IP if you pause or cancel the project mid-way.

FAQs