Which statement best describes the difference between schematic design and design development?

• A. Schematic design finalizes materials; design development only handles project scheduling
• B. Schematic design focuses on construction details; design development focuses on marketing
• C. Schematic design defines concepts and massing; design development refines design, resolves details, and prepares construction documents
• D. Schematic design produces fabrication drawings; design development produces temporary sketches

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how design work evolves from broad concepts to build-ready details. Schematic design is about defining concepts and massing: outlining the overall form, spatial relationships, and general layout, often exploring multiple options to establish the project direction. Design development takes that direction and refines it: making the design more precise, resolving details, selecting materials and assemblies, coordinating with structural and MEP systems, and producing drawings and information that support construction documents and permit applications.

That progression from big-picture concepts to coordinated, detail-focused development explains why this option is the best. The other statements misstate what each phase creates or emphasizes—materials and scheduling aren’t finalized in schematic design, marketing isn’t a design-development deliverable, and fabrication drawings belong to later stages, not the sequence described here.