What “Early” Really Means When Bringing a Designer On Board

When it comes to when a designer should be brought into a project, timing is everything. So what does Early actually mean?

Early does not mean after the lease is signed.
It does not mean once the building is selected.
It does not mean when plans are already in motion and decisions feel difficult to undo.

True early involvement happens before commitments are locked in. That timing makes all the difference.

Early Is Before Decisions Become Expensive

Once a lease is signed or a building is selected, flexibility narrows fast. Ceiling heights, column spacing, core locations, mechanical constraints, and even natural light are suddenly fixed conditions instead of variables.

When a designer is involved before those decisions, design becomes a decision making tool. We can help evaluate whether a space actually supports operations, brand goals, and future growth. That prevents costly redesigns, compromises, and reactive spending later.

Early Is Before Square Footage Works Against You

Not all square footage is equal. Two buildings with the same size can perform very differently based on layout efficiency, circulation, adjacencies, and infrastructure.

Early design input allows for test fits that reveal how a space truly functions. This helps teams understand what they are really leasing or buying, not just what looks good on paper. Often it leads to smarter negotiations, better building choices, or avoided mistakes altogether.

Early Is When Options Still Exist

Once drawings are underway, every change carries a cost. Time, money, or both.

Early involvement is when options are still open. We can explore multiple layout strategies, phasing approaches, and levels of finish that align with budget realities. This is when creative problem solving is proactive instead of corrective.

Early Is When Design Supports Strategy, Not Just Aesthetics

Design is often mistaken as a finishing layer. Furniture, finishes, and visual polish.

In reality, design at the right moment supports much bigger questions. How will people move through the space. How does the environment support productivity, hospitality, or brand perception. How does the space adapt over time.

Those questions should shape decisions from the start, not be squeezed in at the end.

Early Means Protecting the Investment

When designers are brought in late, the work often becomes about fixing conflicts, value engineering under pressure, or making hard constraints look intentional.

When designers are brought in early, the work is about protecting the investment. Aligning vision, operations, and budget from the beginning leads to better outcomes, fewer surprises, and stronger long term value.

So When Is Early?

Early is before the lease is signed.
Early is before the building is selected.
Early is before momentum replaces intention.

That is when design has the greatest impact.

That is when we do our best work at Jen Baran Design.