Which of the following is a step in the six steps of the design process (critical path)?

• A. Post-occupancy evaluation
• B. Initial client contact
• C. Budget estimation
• D. Market analysis

Answer: (B)

Starting with the client relationship and gathering requirements sets the direction for the whole project. That initial contact defines what the space needs to do, the constraints, the budget, and the timeline, which in turn unlocks and shapes every subsequent design activity. Because everything that follows depends on understanding the client’s goals and resources, this step sits at the heart of the critical path — it drives and constrains the sequence of later steps.

Post-occupancy evaluation is something done after the space is in use to assess performance, not a step you perform while still on the design track. Budget estimation and market analysis can influence early decisions, but in the typical six-step design process they’re not standalone steps on the critical path; they’re often integrated into programming or feasibility activities that occur before or alongside the main design phases.