The Principal Designer role is intended to be part of the design process. When approached proportionately and with clarity, it supports better coordination, clearer responsibility, and a compliant project being handed over to the Principal Contractor for construction.
In practice, the role is often misunderstood. It is not about taking over design work or duplicating existing professional responsibilities. It is about ensuring that design risk and regulatory requirements are managed coherently across the project.
What the role is intended to do
The Principal Designer role exists to plan, manage, and coordinate design work in relation to building safety and compliance.
In practical terms, this means:
- supporting coordination across disciplines
- ensuring that relevant design information is identified, managed, and reviewed
- maintaining clarity around responsibility as the design develops
- helping the project team remain aligned with regulatory expectations
The role should be scaled to suit the size and complexity of the project.
What the role is not
A Principal Designer does not replace the architect, engineer, or specialist designers.
Designers remain responsible for their own design work. The Principal Designer role sits alongside those responsibilities, providing oversight and coordination rather than authorship or control.
When undertaken properly, the role should reduce friction rather than create it.
Working with established design teams
On most projects, design teams are already established by the time a Principal Designer is appointed.
In these situations, the role works best when it is embedded within the existing design process. Other professionals continue to operate within their traditional roles, while the Principal Designer focuses on coordination, information flow, and proportionate governance.
This approach reflects current guidance and supports collaborative working.
Closing
The Principal Designer role is still developing across the industry. When applied with clarity and proportionality, it supports better outcomes for clients, design teams, and regulators alike.
If you would like to discuss how the role applies to a specific project, please get in touch via the Contact page.
Leave a Reply