As stated earlier, the designer should study the different design factors when preparing a functional diagram. Each of these factors influences the others and should be studied in concert with one another. When the functional diagram is completed, the entire site area should be covered with bubbles and other graphic symbols representing all the necessary spaces and elements of the design (Figure 8—33). There should be no blank areas or “holes” in the layout (Figure 8—34). When this occurs, it indicates the
designer has not made a decision about the use of this area of the site, and it should be determined what will occur there.
Another suggestion for this step of the design process is to remember to use alternatives. In fact, it is advisable to try two or three quickly developed alternatives for the overall site organization. Alternatives encourage the designer to be creative about organizing the site functions and to perhaps discover a better way of solving a problem than was initially apparent. With a series of alternatives, the designer is better able to pick the one alternative or combination of alternatives that is best for further elaboration in the next step of design.
