The Barnes Perspective: Thoughts, Ideas & Lessons Learned from Joseph Barnes

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Joseph Barnes is the principal of Barnes Design & Development Management advisory services firm. As Community Development Integration specialist, they are dedicated to working with design and development professionals on the creation of built environments which generate incremental and sustained value – aesthetic, social and economic. They leverage the knowledge, lessons learned, and relationships developed by Joseph Barnes over thirty-years of experience with benchmark setting, high-profile, high-concept, mixed-used community and land development projects.

Category: Design Review

  • East Beach: “Design Connection” – Builder & Architect Collaboration

    East Beach: “Design Connection” – Builder & Architect Collaboration

    East Beach in Norfolk, Virginia was a chance to prove that timeless design principles could revive a city’s tradition of great neighborhoods. We adapted lessons from Celebration, brought builders into a shared vision early, and even borrowed a few unconventional tactics to inspire them. The result was a community that feels as authentic as the…

  • The Importance of Designing in Good Design

    What happens when you start a project assuming good design is the baseline? In my role as Town Architect for Disney’s Celebration, I learned that most of the housing industry doesn’t work that way. This piece introduces the idea of “Designing in Good Design” and why the industry’s typical approach too often leaves neighborhoods feeling…

  • From Design Coach to Compliance Cop: A Cautionary Tale of Design Review from I’On

    From Design Coach to Compliance Cop: A Cautionary Tale of Design Review from I’On

    More than 25 years ago, the I’On neighborhood was designed to embody Lowcountry architectural traditions through a supportive design review process. However, after its transition to the Property Owners Association, the approach shifted from collaboration to rigid compliance, leading to declining design quality and resident dissatisfaction. The author calls for reflection on maintaining design integrity…

  • Why Your Project Needs an Approval Roadmap Just as Much as a Design Strategy

    Why Your Project Needs an Approval Roadmap Just as Much as a Design Strategy

    The post emphasizes the importance of integrating a clear review and approval process into project design management. It highlights how vision alone is insufficient for successful project execution without a structured approval strategy that addresses both internal and external stakeholders. Through examples from various developments, it illustrates how confusion in approvals can lead to delays,…

  • Transform Your Approach: STOP Design Review – START “Design Coaching”

    Design review processes frustrate both applicants and reviewers due to miscommunication, leading to delays and resentment. Instead of critiquing designs, a shift towards coaching is suggested, involving clearer goals, stronger team dynamics, and inspiration. By fostering collaboration and building trust, the design phase can become more efficient and productive for all stakeholders.