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White Paper: The phased approach to AV design

You notice all of the objects surrounding you because of their unique and special design. These objects range from automobiles and watches to homes and offices. And if good design is an imperative, can Audiovisual solutions be far behind?

This white paper by Infocomm details the phased approach to AV design. Exceptional AV systems follow a design pattern needed and wanted by a customer. Most AV designers know this and factor it into the integration of AV products and solutions.

Designing an AV system is like designing any other product or solution. When you design an AV system you need to ensure that the process is streamlined and that the AV designer delivers on the customer’s expectations.

Like most design, AV design is also iterative and not linear. Also, most AV projects are dynamic and so, systems and components may need to be altered suddenly. However, if AV designers follow a well-planned process the AV system is perfect from the customer’s point of view. This AV design process is detailed in the ANSI/INFOCOMM 2M-2010 standard.

There are different phases that a good AV design should go through.

These are:

1. The Program Phase: During the program phase, the AV designer discusses, clarifies and documents the customer’s needs, concerns, expectations and constraints. A needs analysis is done, wherein the customer describes generally what he or she would like the AV system to do. During this phase, the AV designer should fill in the gaps and educate the customer. The AV designer should also compile a list of needs and share it with the customer so that all parties are on the same page. After the needs analysis is done, the details are compiled in a program report. This report outlines the needs of the customer, the purpose and function of the system, a cost estimate, and the customer’s approval.

2. The Design Phase: During this phase, the AV system begins to take form on paper. During this phase, the AV designer refers to the needs analysis and program report and turns them into system specifications and concept drawings. The system specifications describe the functionality, operation and performance specifications, such as frequency response, contrast ratio, and so on. The system specifications may also include installation and testing procedures, as well as warranty information.

The concept drawings visually represent the system and gives the customer an idea of what the system will look like at completion. These drawings show how everything is connected.

Design_Process3
Designing a Digital Signage Solution

3. The Construction Phase: The phase includes preparing detailed documents, such as workshop drawings. These communicate the technical aspects of the system before handing them off to the installation team. These technical drawings lays down the foundation to assist the installation team with implementing the design.

4. The Verification Phase: During this phase, the AV designer must ensure that the installed system meets the customer’s needs as spelled out in the needs analysis. Every part of the system shoudl be reviewed and verified. All modifications should be approved by the customer. There are certain toos that can help with systems verification.

Design is a complex but critical part of a successful AV project. Each project is different, so, while you may want to broadly follow these phases, there may be different ways to approach certain phases, depending on the type of project and its complexity.

So, now you know how to approach AV design systematically and seamlessly. Here’s to designing a successful AV project!

 

 

(Content courtesy: www.infocomm.org and Images courtesy: www.infocomm.org and www.samsung.com)

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