See how a design brief takes shape. Prepare for a space viewing. Find the right starting point for your project.
Illustrative salon reference. Not completed JQ33 client work or a dimensioned plan.
01 / See the thinking
Inside a design package
A written sample for an imagined salon refresh: the brief, the layout questions, the material direction, and the decisions still to make.
Illustrative sample, not a completed client project. These example sections show how design decisions can be organized. Drawings, visuals, specifications, and revision rounds depend on your agreed package; this is not a construction or permit document.
Sheet 01
The brief
Example assignment: refresh an existing salon so arrival feels clear, stylists have useful storage, and the interior has one bold visual moment.
Business priorities
Make check-in easy to find; reduce trips for everyday supplies; give the reception view a recognizable character.
Working assumptions
Keep the existing wash area in its current location while its condition and equipment needs are checked. Explore furniture and finish changes before proposing changes to building systems.
Information to gather
Verified base dimensions, current photos, equipment specifications, service list, staff routines, and the owner's budget and timing priorities.
Decision for the owner
Confirm whether the immediate goal is a layout improvement or a complete visual refresh. That determines the next design scope.
Sheet 02
Layout direction
Example direction: make reception visible from the door, group frequently used supplies near the styling zone, and review how arrival, service, and checkout cross paths.
Arrival: compare a compact welcome point with an integrated reception and retail unit. Check whether waiting affects the route into the salon.
Service: test station positions using actual chair and trolley sizes, then review staff movement and client access.
Support: identify separate places for clean supplies, used items, deliveries, and staff belongings.
Review note: choose the arrangement that supports the daily routine before refining finishes. A dimensioned layout would follow verified site information and the agreed scope.
Sheet 03
Material & light
Example direction: a soft neutral backdrop, a deep violet reception accent, and brushed metal details that connect the welcome point to the stations.
Reception accent
Compare a painted finish and a replaceable panel. Review samples for colour, cleaning, repair, availability, and the proposed location.
Working surfaces
Ask suppliers to confirm suitability for the salon's products and cleaning routine. Record the selected finish, reference, supplier, and approved alternative.
Lighting direction
Study the mirror view, daylight, and task needs separately from ambient lighting. Confirm fixture selection and technical requirements with the appropriate supplier or contractor.
Sample status: a written palette direction. Physical samples, supplier selections, and project-specific visuals have not been supplied for this example.
Sheet 04
Decisions & handoff
A useful handoff says what has been decided and what still needs confirmation. Each drawing or schedule should have an issue date and a clear purpose.
Owner review: approve the preferred arrival arrangement and priorities before the next revision.
Designer follow-up: refine the layout and record selected finish direction within the agreed package.
Supplier or contractor confirmation: check equipment needs, site conditions, availability, and pricing for the proposed work.
Open item: confirm any specialist documentation or approval work required for the premises and who is responsible.
Example file structure: brief and decision log; agreed layout drawings; finish or fixture schedules; included views; issue and revision notes. The proposal identifies which files your engagement includes.
Use the same questions for every potential space. Record the unknowns and who will answer them before you rely on a layout, budget, or opening plan.
Bring the business brief. List your services, customer journey, staffing, equipment, storage, and opening priorities.
Gather the base information. Request the current plan, note whether dimensions are verified, and take photos of the entry, walls, ceiling, and existing service areas with permission.
Walk both routes. Trace a customer visit and a staff shift. Include deliveries, cleaning, waste, restocking, and private conversations.
Ask the landlord. Record the process for confirming use and alterations, available building information, signage and access conditions, and responsibilities for existing fixtures.
Ask the contractor. What needs investigation before pricing? Which equipment and building-system questions need a qualified specialist?
Ask the designer. Which layout decisions should come first? What additional information is needed, and what design deliverables would help?
Assign the open questions. Give each a person to ask, an answer-needed date, and a place to keep the written response.
This is a preparation tool. Have lease terms, suitability, approvals, and technical requirements confirmed by the landlord and appropriate professionals.
Open the downloaded file in your browser, then choose Print. No signup required.
03 / Choose your starting point
What do you need to decide?
Start with the outcome, then compare the scope. These are JQ33's starting design fees in CAD, separate from construction, purchasing, and any separately agreed professional services.
Layout Sprint
From $2,900 CAD
For zoning, customer and staff circulation, and furniture or equipment placement. Start here when the arrangement is the main question.
Signature Interior
From $6,800 CAD
For a coordinated concept with layout, finish palette, lighting direction, and key 3D views. Start here when you need to see the visual direction together.
Contractor-Ready Package
From $12,500 CAD
For more detailed design direction across multiple zones and clearer sourcing and contractor pricing discussions. Confirm the drawing and specification list in your proposal.
This guide suggests a conversation starter, not a quote. Site measurement, technical coordination, exact deliverables, and timing are confirmed in the written scope.
