Concept sketches are free hand drawings used throughout a project to explore different ideas quickly and efficiently. They are very quick, simple drawings that can be executed faster than drawing electronically. Once a concept has been selected more accurate electronic drawings can be developed. Concept sketching is used in client meetings to illustrate ideas further or introduce new ideas that emerge at the meeting. They are a daily part of communication between designers.

Zoning diagrams are freehand sketches usually done on tracing paper overlaid on the base plan drawing. The zones, or bubbles, only indicate the relative size and position of different spaces in the project. The bubbles are loosely drawn or round in order not to define the shape of the spaces at the beginning of the project.

Extent drawings are plans or elevations showing where a particular finish is to be applied (the extent of it), how it meets adjacent finishes and details about its installation. A common example would be bathroom tile extent drawings.

Floor plans are essentially maps of the project and are the interior designer’s primary tool. A floor plan is a conceptual, aerial view of the project showing everything that would be visible from a theoretical cutting plane through the building at 6’ high looking down. All items that would be visible from that point are shown in a continuous line type Items that would be cut through by the 6’ high theoretical cutting plane, like walls that go all the way to the ceiling, are hatched (coloured in)

There are subtypes of floor plans: Construction plans often do not show furniture and include more structural information

Furniture plans are plans that show furniture and are often used for client presentations and office and restaurant planning.

Demolition plans are a type of structural plan that show walls that are to be removed

Reflected ceiling plans are maps of the ceiling Reflected ceiling plans are maps of the ceiling. The same theoretical cutting plane at 6’ from the floor is used, but instead of an aerial view it is drawn as though you were laying on the floor looking up. They are called reflected because left and right would be reversed from the floor plan-a mirror image which would be confusing.

Elevations are drawings of vertical surfaces, like walls, drawn with no perspective. They are faster to draw then perspectives and allow for more accurate dimensioning and detailing of material connections. Wall elevations usually end at the edge of the adjacent walls and ceiling.

Section details are views that cut through an object, like a cabinet Section details are views that cut through an object, like a cabinet. They are usually e at a larger scale, such as 3”:1’-0” or even 1:1. The theoretical cutting plane and direction of view is selected by a section symbol and cut line on an elevation or plan view of the object. Parts of the object that would be sliced through by the cutting plane are ‘coloured in” with specific hatch patterns indicating different materials. Section details are used to illustrate details of how an object’s parts join and the material connections.

Building Sections are similar to elevations, but they extend all the way through the building. Instead of ending the drawing at the edges of the adjacent walls, building sections show a row of elevations looking all in the same direction with cut-through views of the walls between them and sometimes the ceiling structure above. Building sections are useful for illustrating the relationship between different spaces and levels in a building.