Issue description
Providing multiple design options during a project is often essential to present clients with various concepts. However, a challenge arises when creating Design Options in Archicad, as it is not possible to select more than one design option within the Design Option Combinations. Therefore, what is the most effective method to manage and organize these design alternatives?
Solution
Design Options were introduced in Archicad 27 to help users easily manage and present multiple design alternatives. Understanding three key terms is crucial when working with Design Options:
Design Options: These represent the specific alternatives for the design (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue).
Design Option Set: This is a group that holds related design options (e.g., Color).
Design Option Combination: A collection of various design options grouped to form distinct design scenarios (e.g., Option 1).
To create different Design Options:
Navigate to Document > Design Options > Design Manager. In the Design Manager, start by creating a new Design Option Set. This set will act as a container for your related design options. For example, if you're creating different color schemes, your Option Set could be called “Color.”
After creating the Option Set, begin adding individual Design Options. For example, under the “Color” Option Set, you could add “Red,” “Yellow,” and “Blue” as options.
Once your options are in place, the next step is to create a Design Option Combination. In the Design Manager window, select the (+) New at the lower left corner of the Design Option Manager Window to create Design Option Combination. This allows you to group different design options together to form a complete design scenario. For instance, you could create “Option 1” to include a Red color scheme and other design options.
By understanding how Design Options, Option Sets, and Option Combinations work together in Archicad, you can easily manage and present multiple design alternatives to your clients. It not only helps you stay organized but also offers a flexible way to explore different ideas without committing to just one. With these tools, you can provide your clients with more choices and confidently guide them through the design process.