WHAT
WE DO.

DESIGN MANAGEMENT IS OUR FOCUS.

We work directly within the design process to coordinate, align and resolve issues before they impact procurement, construction or delivery.
Coordinating directly, working technically and embedding ourselves in every stage of project delivery.

James Brodie is the founder of Red Pen Design Management Ltd. With a background in architecture, project management and design management, James brings over 20 years experience of managing complex residential, commercial, public-sector and built environment projects.

He has operated with clients, consultants and contractors to improve design coordination, strengthen documentation, manage risk and keep project teams aligned from early briefing through to delivery.

Red Pen Design Management was developed to bring that same practical, hands-on design leadership directly into projects where clarity, coordination and accountability count.

COORDINATION • CLARITY • CONTROL

We operate inside the design process — reviewing information, testing assumptions, clarifying interfaces and assisting the team to make informed decisions. We don’t simply track the design, we shape it.

Consultant Scopes. Drawings. Schedules. Consultant inputs. Design risks. Procurement requirements. Construction implications. This is where design management adds value.

WE TAKE A MORE ACTIVE APPROACH.

We slow the thinking down, identify the problem, find the gaps and clarify the interfaces.

Red Pen brings structure to the space between disciplines, decisions, drawings, cost, programming, procurement and construction.

THINK SLOW THEN MOVE FAST.

We can support the full project lifecycle or provide targeted input when it is most necessitated.

Before design starts — consultant scopes, appointments and responsibilities are set up early.

During design — coordination, consultant inputs, interfaces and drawings are kept in alignment.

At any stage — health check, reset or second opinion.

AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS THE PROJECT NEEDS.

Red Pen works directly with commercial contractors to get amongst the design consultants, connect the dots between disciplines and keep design information aligned across each phase..

We help manage consultant scopes, design deliverables, documentation, open decisions and discipline interfaces — providing clarity before gaps become pricing, procurement, programme or site issues.

COORDINATED DESIGN FOR CONTRACTOR-LED DELIVERY.

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  Consultant Scopes + Engagement
  We define what each consultant needs to deliver, where responsibilities sit and where interfaces need to be managed from the start. Clear consultant scopes set the project up for success prior to design work commencing.

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  Design Programme Management
  We sequence consultant deliverables, align design milestones and keep the documentation process moving seamlessly. The design programme sets out when key information needs to be developed, coordinated and reviewed.

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  Drawing & Document Review
  We review consultant packages at project milestones - checking coordination, completeness and buildability. We provide clear communication and help resolve issues prior to the drawings go out the door.

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  Design Coordination
  We align disciplines, manage inputs and keep the design developing as one coordinated whole. The value sits between consultants — making sure interfaces are understood, assumptions are tested and that the design moves forward together.

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  Stakeholder Workshops
  We plan and facilitate focused workshops at key decision points — bringing the right people into the fold, providing a framework for the discussion and capturing clear actions. We help turn open issues into agreed direction for the design team.

• 

  Verification of Buildability
  We ensure design and documentation translates to construction reality — checking that details resolve, interfaces are achieved and what is on paper can be built as documented.

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  Risk & Gap Analysis
  We review the project identifying assumptions, gaps and unresolved items across scope, design, procurement and delivery. We then clarify what needs to be resolved and who should respond.

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  Safety in Design (SiD)
  We help structure the correct conversations at the right stages, ensuring SiD is built in at the design process phase. We then capture key risks and make sure SiD outcomes are carried through as the design develops.

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  Value Management
  We work alongside the cost consultant to ensure budget and resource are directed to where they matter. Cost and design decisions stay aligned through a structured process and register, ensuring every decision is captured and tracked.

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  Sustainability
  We work with project teams to identify sustainability goals and track their integration across design, specification and delivery. We then ensure commitments are documented, responsibilities are clear and outcomes are measurable through every stage of the project.

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  Design Risk Register
  Using a live design risk register, we track open decisions, coordination gaps and design risks as they develop to give the client and project team a clear view of what is open and closed, who is responsible, and what requires attention.

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  Project Admin Support
  We manage meetings, minutes, actions, registers, engagement of consultants and payment certification for fees, so the project administration is clear, current and properly controlled.