This research aims to propose guidelines in the architectural design process. In so doing, it adopts a holistic and pragmatic approach.
The research uses qualitative methods, specifically grounded theory with an emerging approach.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the data. The participants (interviewees) were consisted of thirty Iranian architects taking into account two factors: a) being experienced and b) being proficient. The in-depth questions of the interviews covered the design process from the beginning up to the proposal of the concept design.
Using the open and axial methods of coding, the findings are presented in two categories: “subjects related to the design process” and “subjects related to the designer”. In the first part, sub-categories of “design activities”, “design structure”, “team work”, “design tools”, “project’s budget” and “innovation” are further discussed. Also, in the second part, sub-categories of “designer’s mind”, “interaction with client”, “interaction with engineers”, “guiding principles”, “designer’s experience” and “teaching” are explored.
Next, through selective coding and with the introduction of a "four-part model", the architectural design process of participants are explained. The proposed model is expected to be able to provide a cogent explanation for the actions of architects who take up the task of design.
The research concludes with guidelines in the architectural design process using the model grounded in the data and by analysis of the design methods of architects studied.
This research is innovative in that it adopts a holistic and pragmatic approach, documents the design process of three generations of expert Iranian architects and offers an explanation of the architectural design process using a proposed four-part model.
 
 
Keywords: Architectural design process, Guidelines in design, Iranian architects, Pragmatic approach, Holistic approach, Grounded theory method