Appointing a designer is the first major decision of any renovation or new build, and it's the one that most homeowners make with the least information. They look at portfolios. They ask a friend. They go with someone their builder suggested. And then, six months later, they're deep into a design process that isn't going the way they hoped.
I've seen this happen often enough that I want to give you a more structured way to think about this decision. Not because finding a good designer is impossibly hard (there are plenty of excellent architects and building designers working in the Illawarra) but because the way most people go about it almost guarantees they'll miss the things that actually matter.
First: do you need an architect or a building designer?
A registered architect holds a qualification recognised under the NSW Architects Act and is registered with the NSW Architects Registration Board. For complex new builds, significant structural projects, or sites with difficult planning requirements, a registered architect is usually the right choice.
A building designer is a licensed professional under the Design and Building Practitioners Act. They can prepare the drawings and documentation required for most residential projects, and often work more efficiently on straightforward extensions and renovations where full architectural service isn't necessary.
What a portfolio doesn't tell you
Whether they design to budget. A beautiful project in their portfolio might have cost 40% more than the client expected. Ask specifically: what was the original budget for this project? What was the final construction cost?
Whether their DA approvals sail through or crawl. A designer who has successfully navigated five Wollongong coastal projects with complex escarpment and flooding overlays is worth considerably more than one who hasn't, regardless of what their portfolio looks like.
How they communicate. Design projects take a long time. You'll be working with this person for 12–24 months. How quickly do they respond to emails? Do they communicate in plain English?
Whether they have capacity to take your job. Good designers are usually busy. A designer who says yes immediately and starts next week might have more capacity than you'd want them to have.
The questions worth asking at your first meeting
Most homeowners use the first meeting with a designer to describe their project and then listen to the designer talk about their process. That's fine as far as it goes. But the first meeting is also your opportunity to assess the designer, and most people don't use it that way.
The conflict of interest you might not think to ask about
Some designers have ongoing commercial relationships with specific builders: referral arrangements where they recommend builders who in turn recommend them to their clients. Ask directly: do you have referral arrangements or preferred builder relationships? A good designer will answer honestly.
What a design fee should include
Before you sign any design engagement, make sure you understand precisely what the fee covers. A full residential design service typically includes: initial briefing and concept design; developed design; DA documentation; construction certificate documentation; and sometimes construction administration.
Designer Select finds and independently assesses architects and building designers matched to your project, with a written shortlist, scored evaluation, and fee proposal review before you sign anything.