Across the design and construction industry, projects are failing—not for lack of creativity or technical ability, but for lack of clarity. As projects move from concept through construction, the reasoning behind design decisions is often lost. Drawings evolve. Specifications lag. Critical decisions remain undocumented. The result is a growing disconnect between what was intended and what is built.
We name this condition: THE DESIGN INTENT GAP - the divide between design vision and constructed reality.
Across the design and construction industry, projects are failing—not for lack of creativity or technical ability, but for lack of clarity. As projects move from concept through construction, the reasoning behind design decisions is often lost. Drawings evolve. Specifications lag. Critical decisions remain undocumented. The result is a growing disconnect between what was intended and what is built.
We name this condition: THE DESIGN INTENT GAP - the divide between design vision and constructed reality.
Across projects of every size: - RFIs increase as intent becomes unclear - Value engineering alters performance and quality - Substitutions undermine original objectives - Architects lose authorship over outcomes
The issue is not effort. The issue is undocumented intent.
When intent is unclear, contractors must interpret, engineers work without context, owners lose confidence, and facilities teams inherit incomplete knowledge. This is not merely a documentation issue—it is a risk and accountability issue.
Design Intent describes what a building system must do, how performance is measured, and which objectives must be preserved—even as solutions evolve.
If it is not documented, it is not designed.
Design Intent evolves across phases, but documentation remains fragmented. A system-based, performance-driven framework organizes intent by building systems, describes performance before prescribing solutions, and preserves continuity from concept through construction.
We assert that Design Intent is the responsibility of the Architect and must be documented early, continuously, and transparently.
We call on architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and educators to recognize Design Intent as a formal project deliverable.
We commit to establishing Design Intent at project inception, describing intent using system- and performance-based language, and protecting the built environment from unintended compromise.
If it’s not documented, it’s not designed.
Signing indicates agreement with the principle that Design Intent should be documented, preserved, and treated as a formal deliverable using system- and performance-based descriptions.
No. It is a professional statement of alignment, not a request for policy change or regulation.
Only if you choose. You may support the initiative without public attribution.
None. No mailing lists, no commitments, no follow-up requirements.
Architects, engineers, specifiers, contractors, owners, estimators, educators, and anyone involved in shaping or delivering the built environment.
Because design intent is best preserved by describing what must be achieved before prescribing how it is achieved. This approach allows intent to survive change without being diluted.
