Schematic design is the phase where a building's concept starts to become a real design. The big moves are still being tested, but now they are drawn to scale. Floor plans show room sizes and relationships. Elevations show the facade. Sections show how the building is put together. The design is not final, but it is concrete.

Architects use schematic design to explore options and get feedback. They present drawings, models, and diagrams to the client. The client responds. The design changes. This back-and-forth is the point. It is cheaper to change a drawing than a building.

Schematic design typically ends with a set of drawings and a rough cost estimate. The estimate is not precise, but it gives the client a sense of whether the project is affordable. If it is not, the team must adjust scope, quality, or both.

The phase is not just about the building. It is also about the site, the budget, the schedule, and the client's priorities. A good schematic design resolves these into a coherent direction. A bad one leaves them unresolved, and the problems surface later.